High-resolution bionic eye

The first real, high-resolution, user-configurable bionic eye

For centuries, people have suffered with blindness due to many different reasons.  Cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal detachments, and different types of diseases.  Through surgery and modern medication allow for us to remove many of these issues from the patients impairment, it is evident that neither of these treatment plans will work for many, if not most of the presenting ocular diseases.

The Alpha IMS andArgus II is considered to be the newest high-resolution "bionic eye".  This is a retinal prostheses works much like a normal functioning eye, by taking in light signals and translating them into electric signals that are then sent to the brain to where it can be translated into images.  The article provides a quick video as to how this devise works.  It essentially requires a microchip to be inserted in the eye between the retina and the sclera where damaged retina resides, and it reads the light signals that are entering through the pupil.  Furthermore, there is a small dial that is located above the patients ear that allows to change the brightness.

I found this article interesting, because first, I have a huge interest in bionics, secondly, I have a large background in optometric and ocular sciences, and third, I have an appreciation for how the ability to see can change a person's life completely.  The article also provides a video of one of the first patients reaction to the first time he saw his wife's face.  He describes even how he could see the shadows present for the spacing between her teeth.

This article also suggests that although this bionic eye is not at the highest level of functionality, it is an excellent start to an exciting future.



http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/149106-the-first-real-high-resolution-user-configurable-bionic-eye

The Vital Nutrient Most Aren't Getting

Omega- 3 fatty acids have been slowly working their way toward the bottom of the nutrient intake of America. Moreover, the ratio of Omega- 3's to Omega- 6's has completely been altered, with a current approximate ratio of 1:20. Early human's brains may have increased in size because of the high concentration of Omega 3s coming from their diet of fish. Even cows and chickens accumulate Omega 3s by eating a diet high in grasses and grubs when given the proper amount of time to mature. Instead, industrial farming has led producers to feed soybean and corn and speed the maturation process. While vegetables do contain Omega 3 fatty acids, the configuration is not easily extracted from the digestive system. The highest concentrations of Omega 3's, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are found in seafood. Higher levels of DHA in neurons have been linked to more effective reception of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, while EPA has been shown to be a dampener of inflammation. In order to increase the amount of Omega 3's in the American Diet, companies are working to reduce the fatty acid to a tasteless powder, so that it may be added into any food.

Source: http://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/omega-3-fatty-acids/page/2

Why do we get older?

As functioning human beings, we are continually forming new cells to replace other cells that die off. Stem cells throughout our body are constantly differentiated for cell replacement and tissue regeneration. However, as we age, more and more of our stem cells lose the ability to multiply and form new cells. This eventually leads to the failure to adequately replace lost cells, regenerate tissue, and maintain homeostasis in our bodies.

Interestingly enough, the polyp Hydra does not show any signs of aging that is characteristic in humans, and they appear potentially immortal. It has been discovered that the stem cells in the Hydra are active during all its life, and this phenomenon has been traced back to a gene known as the FoxO gene. It turns out that this gene is present in our bodies as well, and it is now known that there is a direct link between this FoxO gene and aging.

This area of research is interesting because aging is something that everyone experiences, yet the physiology behind it is still not completely understood. With an increased understanding of aging and the genes, biochemical pathways, and mechanisms which control it we may someday be able to increase the quality of life and suppress the negative effects that are associated with aging.

Here is the article:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121113091953.htm

Soft Touch: Squishy Robots

Currently, remote operated surgical robots are being used fairly commonly to preform simple surgical procedures such as hysterectomies and prostate removals. These robots offer the surgeon increased stability and precision while minimizing invasiveness. They are not, however, without drawbacks. For example, the most widely used robot surgical system, Intuitive Surgical’s ‘da Vinci’ is very expensive- about $2 million. Furthermore a safety concern is raised due to the rigidity of da Vinci’s appendages. Soft Robotics, Inc. seeks to combat both these issues by developing a surgical robot that, as its name suggests, is soft. This ‘squishy’ nature is due to the intuitive design of the bots. They are made from elastomers and controlled by pumping compressed air throughout a network of internal channels. Not only will this design eliminate damage caused by a rigid touch, but it will also drastically cut down on the price of the robot. This is because soft robots can be 3-D printed in a day or two from materials that cost around $20. 

The market for surgical robots is posed to increase dramatically if only a few key issues can be solved. This technology promises to eliminate or at least minimize two of the biggest of these. As bioengineers about to enter the ‘real world’ we should be very interested in such a potential leap in technology.

Source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=soft-robotics-biomedical-surgery

Brain Imaging: fMRI 2.0

Although we have been utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for over two decades now, we have only begun to scratch the surface of its potential. fMRI is a  non-invasive procedure that senses magnetic properties in oxygen rich blood, and as such it has become one of the preferred methods of imaging the brain.

Ironically, there is some debate in what fMRI actually measures. While it is known that a stronger signal indicates a greater need for oxygenated blood in the originating area, some researchers have questioned whether the oxygenated blood levels rise in anticipation of or during brain activity, or possibly even for other currently unknown reasons.

Another current topic in fMRI is the strength of the magnets. While most fMRI now operate with a magnet strength of less than 4 Teslas, there is a research full-body fMRI with a whopping strength of 11.5 Teslas. The reasoning behind this is that stronger magnets can create more detailed images.

Although the future of fMRI is unknown, the possibilities of its application are limitless. This is why I believe the problems brought up in this paper and others will be solved most likely in our lifetimes if not very soon.

Source: http://www.nature.com.lib-ezproxy.tamu.edu:2048/news/brain-imaging-fmri-2-0-1.10365

New metabolism provides energy solutions

The world population has just exceeded 7 billion in 2012 and it remains a question whether we would be able to find sufficient energy sources for our children. As the reserves for oil and natural gas are limited and approaching their exhaustion in decades, the development of bio-fuel becomes increasingly significant. Currently, the primary method to make bio-fuel from sugar is through glycolysis. Glycolysis is the process which human bodies convert glycogen or glucose into smaller 3-carbon molecules. However, there is one major problem with this method: A significant amount of energy is lost in the process in the form of carbon dioxide. In fact, two out of every six carbons will not be converted into biomass.

Fortunately, the efficiency was recently solved by researchers from University of California, Los Angeles. UCLA's Dr Liao and his graduate student Igor Bogorad engineered a new pathway of glucose decomposition using enzymes found in various parts of nature. Using genetically engineered E. coli and rerouting the central metabolic pathway, the researchers were able to avoid carbon loss in the form of carbon dioxide. Dr Liao and his colleagues named the new pathway non-oxidative glycolysis.

As shown in this article, not only does bioengineering provide solutions to living organisms themselves in terms of medicine, medical instrumentations and medical imaging, it offers solutions to various other areas such as the field of energy as well.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130930162415.htm

Tailored Carbon Nanotubes for Tissue Engineering Applications

Tailored Carbon Nanotubes for Tissue Engineering Applications

Tissue engineering has always excited me because of its novelty and innovation. However, the study of biomaterials has also sparked my interest since I have been taking organic chemistry. I currently plan to follow the tissue engineering and biomaterials track for biomedical engineering. This particular article addresses the use of biomaterials in engineering various types of tissue, including nervous tissue which is relevant to our current focus in class.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are graphite sheets that are rolled into tubes of nanoscale diameter and length. While a CNT is not a biomaterial itself, surface modifications make it biocompatible. The have a large surface area, are strong, and have high thermal conductivity. One particular downfall is the fact that CNTs are hydrophobic and thus insoluble, making them difficult to integrate into biosystems. A solution to this issue is surface modification to make the CNTs soluble.

The various applications of CNTs are extensive, but they have not been proven completely successful, especially in vivo. Of particular interest to me is the application in tissue scaffolding. The properties of CNTs, along with cell viability, have been shown to improve with the collagen in the extracellular matrix. In addition, most current bone scaffolds are made of materials that have low strength and provoke immunorejection while CNTs have high strength and have not been shown to cause a major inflammatory reaction. In bone graft, CNTs improve cell adhesion and the ability of the scaffold to attract calcium ions which is important in mineralizing the bone matrix. In blood contact environments, most biomaterials cause thrombosis (clotting), but CNTs are chemically inert, allowing for a lower level of adhesion and reactivity with blood.

Another impressive application is in neuron regeneration since CNTs are electrically conductive and have diameters close to that of nerve fibers. CNTs may be used as devices to improve neural signal transfer as CNT substrates increase the spontaneous synaptic activity. Drug and gene delivery systems, as well as protein transportation, can make use of CNTs. An example of an application of selective drug delivery is the ability of drugs to be targeted at cancer cells.

In spite of the many potential benefits of carbon nanotubes, investigations into their safety in the human body are contradictory at best. CNTs, like most nanoparticles, can create reactive oxygen species, contributing to cytotoxicity, and severe DNA damage has also occurred in certain stem cells. Furthermore, production and treatment quality are not perfect, so contaminants, along with dispersant agents, can affect the safety of CNT use. It seems that solubilized and functionalized CNTs are less toxic. However, these modified CNTs convert into insoluble forms while in the organism and are released into the environment.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2700190/

UW engineers invent programming language to build synthetic DNA

This article was about the creation of a programming language for chemistry that will help to control reactions. The goal was to create systems for creating new molecules that are more adaptable. Currently, once a system has been designed to create a certain molecule, it doesn't repurpose easily. This is the starting block to create a system with much more flexibility and one day, creating a new system to make specific molecules could be as easy as reprogramming the machine that makes it. 

I think that this is pretty cool because of all its possible applications. Maybe one day, with the help of machines and systems like these, it will be possible to create drugs specifically tailored for each individual person.

http://www.washington.edu/news/2013/09/30/uw-engineers-invent-programming-language-to-build-synthetic-dna/

Newly Identified Antibodies Effectively Treat Alzheimer's-Like Disease in Mice

As an individual with a relatively strong family history of dementia, I am always interested in advancements in treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.  The article I found discusses new research in mice, conducted by scientists at the Washington University in St. Louis, and seems to provide hopeful results for the future of Alzheimer’s treatment. Alzheimer’s, along with most forms of dementia, is caused by a build-up of proteins in the brain, one of which is the tau protein. The researchers at WUSTL were able to identify an antibody that prevents the aggregation and tangling of these tau proteins in the brain. The anti-tau antibody significantly reduced the build-up of the proteins, thus improving the cognitive function of mice who were suffering from the rodent version of Alzheimer’s called frontotemporal dementia. After screening various antibodies in order to determine which would block the tau proteins, the team then infused three antibodies directly into the brain. This process was repeated over a period of three months, and the results left the researches optimistic about the potential for success as a treatment in human patients.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130926123326.htm

BrainGate Technology Allows Paralyzed Woman to Control Robotic Arm

       Ever think about what it would be like to be unable to move? To be unable to care for yourself in the simplest of ways? To have your own body be your prison? Many people suffer from debilitating disorders or accidents where they become paralyzed or quadriplegic. They can not care for themselves without assistance. But with emerging technology, they may be able to gain some of their independence back.
       Scientists have recently made an outstanding progress in giving people this independence with their biological computer interface technology.  A device, called BrainGate, allowed a paralyzed woman to control a robotic arm using only her brain. It consists of two quater-inch electrode grids that have 96 contact points with the brain. These electrodes read firing neurons to control the arm movement. The patient, Jan Scheuermann, was able to move the arm with desired movements after a week of the implantation. Now, she can even pick up glasses or candy bars and place them where she wants.
       This technology is an outstanding breakthrough for those who are trapped by their own body. Scientists predict that these robotic arms could be available to others within 5 to 10 years. And who is to stop at just robotic arms? This technology could be applied to an exoskeleton to allow the patient to move their own body. The possibilities are endless. In the words of Jan Scheuermann, "One small nibble for a woman, one giant bite for BCI."

Further information on the technology can be found below. Check it out!!

http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-57559675-247/brain-implants-let-paralyzed-woman-move-robot-arm/

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2011/apr/17/brain-implant-paralysis-movement

15-Year-Old Creates New Method To Diagnose Cancer

            In 2011, a 15-year-old boy named Jack Andraka was deeply affected by a family friend who died of pancreatic cancer, and in turn, developed a much more efficient method to detect this disease in its early stages.

            Because pancreatic cancer can go undetected until its advanced stages, 85% of patients are diagnosed too late and of those numbers, only 2% survive. Jack learned that mesothelin is a protein in the blood that is overexpressed even in the early stages of cancer. He also knew that carbon nanotubes have great mechanical and electrical properties. Therefore he conducted a hypothesis to “lace mesothelin-specific antibodies into a network of carbon nanotubes.” Mesothelin proteins would attach to the antibodies, widening the gaps between the carbon nanotubes, and in turn, this network would have weaker conductivity. This conductivity change would increase based on the amount of mesothelin in the blood sample, and therefore, would be an indicator for specific cancers, including pancreatic cancer, that have elevated mesothelin as an early sign of diagnosis. The conductivity change is easy enough to detect with a standard ohmmeter, making diagnosis much cheaper as well.

            After conducting preliminary research at John Hopkins University with his, “dip-coated filter paper test strips-hooked up via electrodes” to an ohmmeter, they were, “capable of measuring mesothelin levels in the blood of transgenic mice with human pancreatic tumors, and in a limited number of human serum samples.”

            It is because someone like Jack, being as young as he is, can inspire students to make their impact in the scientific field. As scientists, we want to make such an impact to improve the lives of others, and as engineers, we want to accomplish that task as efficiently as possible. To us, Jack is someone to aspire to- to see a lack in the field and improve upon that.

            Click on the link below to read more about how Jack Andraka got involved with researching his experiment at John Hopkins University after many letters of rejection, and some of his trouble shooting, as well as his consequential achievements.

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/34759/title/The-Cancer-Test-Kid/

How Can Light Change The Way The Brain Is Seen?

A new area of research is booming! Optogenetics is an area of research that allows the brain's neuronal activity to be controlled by light stimulation. This new area of research began when graduate student Ed Boyden was researching how light effected cultured brian cells. With a back ground in electrical engineering he was interested in seeing how light changed the electrical activity of neurons.

Boyden and his colleagues knew that the current electrical stimulation was not the way to go when trying to see the brain as a whole. They set out to find a way to learn more about the brain's electrical activity with out "zappng the brain." In 1999 Francis Crick postulated that some neurons would respond to light and some would be immune to light. Following with this idea, Boyden has set out to identify respective functions of neurons since he can in essence "turn on" some neurons and "turn off" other neurons with light.

From current research it has been found that light has very few negative effects on the brain. This technology is shedding light on how a health brain works and providing insight to what happens when the brian is acting abnormally. This technology could help with the understanding and cure of various brain dysfunctions that are due to the brains electrical circuitry.

For more information please go to the following link:
http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=127977&org=NSF

Marijuana stops child's severe seizures

        Dravet Syndrome is a rare and severe type of epilepsy that develops in infants. It causes many seizures that last for over an hour long. Charlotte is an infant that was diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome when she was about a year old. She suffered through many seizures and was prescribed many powerful drugs that were supposed to suppress the seizures. She even tried new diets that were supposed to raise ketone levels which in turn were supposed to keep her neurons healthy. The diet didn't work. Finally, after 4 years and after suffering through over 300!! grand mal seizures per week, Charlotte's parents saw a child being treated for Dravets Syndrome by a compound called  cannabidiol or CBD, a compound found in marijuana. Doctors in Colorado were at first hesitant to sign a prescription for marijuana high in CBD concentraion but after some consideration and because all other options for treatment were exhausted, two doctors eventually sign off for a prescription. Charlotte was orally given oil from the marijuana plant that was high in CBD concentration causing her seizures to stop for seven straight days. She went from having about a seizure every hour to about 2 to 3 per month. This is just one case out of many on the positive effects of marijuana on epileptic patients. However there is still not enough research being done showing marijuana's effect on patients' behavior and brain capabilities because marijuana remains illegal in the United States. Check the link out for yourselves while keeping an open mind.  

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/07/health/charlotte-child-medical-marijuana/index.html?iref=allsearch

New Prospects for Prosthetics

I found this article today on prosthetics. This is something I want to get into with Biomedical Engineering. Learning about the nervous system in class encouraged me to seek out what developments are being made in prosthetics using the nervous system to control the new limb. This article talks about a surgical technique called targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR). Ideally this technique will use brain signals to reach the missing limb. During the amputation, the severed nerves will be connected to other muscles in the body. When it comes time to attach the prosthetic, electrodes will be connected to the muscles and used to communicate with the prosthetic. This is still in a early research stage. I suggest looking at the visual aid slides on the page. It will help with further understanding on the technique.

http://scienceinsociety.northwestern.edu/content/articles/2009/kuiken/new-prospects-for-prosthetics

First Mind-Controlled Bionic Leg

Until recently, prosthetic legs have been either mechanical or basic weight-sensing robotic legs. However, recent technological developments have allowed for the design and production of the first ever thought-controlled bionic leg. It works using electrodes that detect electrical signals from the upper leg muscles. An on-board computer takes these signals and turns it into data that control the motors in the bionic leg.

A million people are expected to have one of these bionic limbs within the next five years, however careful engineering must be done to bring the cost down to an affordable level, as the current costs could be between $20,000 and $120,000. If the project is successful, this would be a major step forward within the bioengineering industry.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/health/first-mind-controlled-bionic-leg-groundbreaking-advance-8C11257732

Porous Scaffold Design for Tissue Engineering

[LINKOUT: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16003400]

With burgeoning research in stem cell manipulation a concurrent shift in medical therapeutics has occurred. In place of tissue grafting or synthetic material replacement, a tissue engineering (TE) approach through which the physical and chemical properties of the scaffold guide cell behavior and ultimate tissue regeneration has become vogue. Using computation topology design (CTD) and solid-free-form fabrication (SFF) designer TE scaffolds can be produced. These next-generation scaffolds can be combined with cell printing to create an optimized 3D structure with biofactor topology.

In designing an optimal tissue scaffold, mechanical properties and mass-transport requirements must be balanced. Because the mechanisms for manipulating these factors are at odds (ex. Increasing mass transport through the introduction of macroporous morphologies is at the expense of mechanical integrity), it is critical to design and compute mechanical and mass-transport properties. This is done through mathematical analysis and computer aided design.

This article is interesting in that it presents an integrative approach towards repair of tissue morbidities. Not only must the mechanical properties of the proposed scaffold be investigated, but also the effect of scaffold properties on cell behavior. Ultimately, a TE approach may result in the creation of patient specific designer tissue replacements. 

Tuning PEG-DA hydrogel properties via solvent-induced phase separation (SIPS)† Brennan Margaret Bailey, Vivian Hui, Ruochong Fei and Melissa Ann Grunlan*

This paper provides a backbone for future work that I do in the Biomaterials lab that I work in.

In tissue engineering, scaffolds are artificial structures that are capable of supporting three dimensional tissue formation. Both physical and chemical properties impact the function of the scaffold; the physical properties include storage modulus (a measure of elasticity) and morphology (pore size), while the chemical properties include swelling ratio and degradation. In theory, an efficient scaffold will have a sufficient storage modulus to maintain stress, a macro porous morphology to host seeded cells, a high swelling ratio that indicates areas of polymer rich and lean domains, and a degradation rate that parallels the rate of regeneration The scaffolds utilized are Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA) due to their resistance to protein and cell adhesion, therefore changes in cell behavior are a result of changes in scaffold's materialistic properties. Macroporous hydrogels have previously been shown to enhance tissue formation and to enhance the degradation rate, therefore increasing the pore size is the main objective. The strategy employed to accomplish this is SIPS protocol (Solvent Induced Phase Separation), which promotes phase separation of the growing polymer chain during UV curing, due to incompatibility between the polymer chain and the solvent. The solvent used is dichloromethane (DCM), as opposed to the traditional aqueous solvent. Using the traditional aqueous solvent as a control, the storage modulus, swelling ratio, morphology, and degradation rate were experimentally tested. The storage modulus of the SIPS hydrogels increased significantly indicating the stiffness of the hydrogels increased. The swelling ratio remained the same for both conventional hydrogels and SIPS hydrogels; although this may seem unimportant, the storage modulus and swelling ratio of SIPS hydrogels can be uncoupled due to the fact that the swelling ratio increased while the swelling ratio remained the same. Uncoupling is an important characteristic for tissue engineering that indicates one material characteristic can be altered without unintentionally altering another material characteristic. Using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), SIPS hydrogels indicated open porous structures, which indicate increased pore size, and as expected the degradation rate increased. As a result it can be concluded that PEG-DA scaffolds formed via SIPS, form a useful library of scaffolds to analyze the physical properties on cell behavior. 

This paper is interesting because it provides a background of the basic approaches and goals of tissue engineering, in which material characteristics of a scaffold are altered to increase the efficiency of the scaffold, in terms of supporting three dimensional tissue formation to promote tissue regeneration.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22956857

Research into Brown Fat Cells Could Help Battle Obesity

Most of the knowledge about brown fat cells, cells that keep us warm by burning fat at a high rate, thus far suggests that these cells are only relevant in rodents and infants. Current research at the UT Southwestern Medical Center suggests that adults also generate these cells when exposed to a cold environment. Brown fat cells is only a small percentage of body fat mass at the present time, but what if somehow the brown fat cells could be generated at a faster rate to make the percentage more abundant? It is found that brown fat cells are made new in response to cold versus another theory that says it is converted from existing white fat cells. I think this concept is interesting because even though the concept is fairly new, with more research, it could make a vast advancement in medicine because obesity is a big problem in our society. An approach to battle obesity in the human body should be researched and taken a step further. Below you will find the link to this article titled “Researchers Find Out Origin of "Brown" Fat Cells That Could Impact in Battling Obesity”.

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130926/Researchers-find-out-origin-of-brown-fat-cells-that-could-impact-in-battling-obesity.aspx

Stem Cells Mimic Human Brain

This article highlights how researchers have discovered that by mixing stem cells originating from the skin, with nutrients and oxygen, the cells exhibit characteristics similar to that of the human brain. In the past, researchers have also been able to culture stem cells into growing structures similar to that of the human eye and also the cortex of the brain. Likewise, the stem cells in this most recent advancement form clumps of tissue that is reminiscent of the brain. Although they do not form a perfect and complete copy, the stem cells resemble natural connective tissues that can be found in the brain. In addition, it is worth noting that these clumps of tissue continued to grow to where they resembled a fetus’ brain in the ninth week of development. This recent discovery holds promise in opening doors to better understanding the brain and neurological diseases.  Researchers can now apply their studies of neurological disease and disorder to a better model of the human brain as opposed to other species, such as rats, because of neurological differences.

I found this article to be interesting because it seems as if researchers have done nearly the impossible. To be this incredibly close in replicating structures similar to that of the human brain with stem cells highlights the practicality of the cells and what human exploration can do.  With this latest advancement, it is in high hopes that we will be able to gain a better understanding of neurological disorders and help others with those disorders. 

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=stem-cells-mimic-human-brain

The role of von Willebrand factor in thrombus formation

Von Willebrand Factor (vWF) is a chemical factor that is produced by either the the endothelium or megakaryocytes. It is one of the factors involved in platelet function, thus very important in the blood clotting process of the body. It is usually activated or released in response to exposure to collagen and its role in platelet plug formation is to link platelets to collagen. Absence of vWF will cause prolonged bleeding.

The effects of shear strain on  vWF is considered in this article. vWF is a very large blood glycoprotein which ranges in size from approx. 500kDa to 20,000kDa.  It plays a crucial role in haemostasis and thrombosis by acting as a bridge between platelets and the injured endothelium under conditions of high shear stress. Large oligomers are more efficient at doing this as proven by research, it doesn't work well when broken up into many strands or chains. And, it is said that patients with Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) develop Type IIA acquired von Willebrand disease (AVWD), which is characterized by a loss of high molecular weight (HMW) oligomers. Patients suffer from bleeds, especially gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. It is hypothesized that increased shear strain on blood will cause greater loss of HMW oligomers, contributing to AVWD.

I found this article interesting due to the fact that during the summer, I was doing some research with my professor learning the effect the shear stress in patients with ventricular assist device upon blood damage which causes acquired von Willebrand syndrome. I hope you will like the article as much as I did as it is fascinating to know that such a small factor in the platelet function can cause such a huge influence on the patients' blood clotting process and think how does it affect patients with VAD? Food for thought. Plus, we will be learning about platelets and coagulation in Chapter 16.

URL:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2702526/

Read more »

Hello everyone! 

I recently stumbled upon an article relating to a cancer vaccine that was developed by a group of engineers, scientists, and clinicians from Harvard University and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This vaccine is designed to help treat Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The article compares the original vaccines with the vaccine that they have developed and how it will benefit patients. 

The article explains how most cancer vaccines today require doctors to remove immune cells from a patient's body and "reprogram" these cells. After this doctors will then reintroduce the immune cells into the body. The new vaccine that Harvard University and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute personnel have developed uses a "small disk-like sponge" composed of polymers. The article states that these polymers are "FDA-approved". The sponge is implanted under a patient's skin and will gather a patient's own immune cells. The immune cells will then be instructed to attack cancer cells and kill them.

A study was done with mice to test the effectiveness of this vaccine. The study found that 50 percent of the mice treated with the vaccine would have otherwise died within 25 days without treatment. Right now the group's purpose is to go through Phase I clinical trials. The results seem great for mice, now we need proof that the vaccine will also work well for humans. The phase I study is expected to be done sometime during the year 2015. 

I found this article very interesting because the group of people who helped develop this vaccine involved a large number of bioengineers. It is inspiring in a way and certainly makes me want to study cancer closely.  

URL: http://www.seas.harvard.edu/news/2013/09/cancer-vaccine-begins-phase-i-clinical-trials  

Focus Shifts to Gray Matter in Search for the Cause of Multiple Sclerosis

          Previously, the most prevalent hypothesis suggested that Multiple Sclerosis (MS) originated in white matter. White matter consists of bundles of axons covered in myelin, a white insulating fatty layer. In patients with MS, they have difficulty with motor coordination and loss of senses due to the myelin degradation. Recently, studies have shown that MS may actually begin in the gray matter, which affects thinking and learning. Scientists at Rutgers University in Newark began analyzing proteins in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in newly diagnosed or patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). They found an uneven distribution of proteins which at least 75 percent affect gray matter, not myelin. This shows that issues are occurring in gray matter before myelin degradation. This is an opportunity for early diagnosis, especially through investigation the proteins involved early in MS.

          I found this article to be rather interesting due to the fact that MS has been around for some time and it affects more than 2.1 million people worldwide, but scientists are still not able to figure out the cause of MS. However, it's equally interesting that they've been able to narrow it down to two hypothesis: one suggesting MS begins in white matter and the other in gray matter. Through this article, I realized MS patients typically are not diagnosed until they display symptoms relating to myelin loss.

          I would really recommend this article, especially since we just discussed out SNBAL in regards to Multiple Sclerosis.


http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=focus-shifts-to-gray-matter-search-for-cause-multiple-sclerosis

Duke Eye Center is ready to offer a bionic eye to patients that will provide partially restoreed artificial vision. The bionic eye technology is called Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System and was designed by Second Sight Medical Products. The Argus II recently gained approval from the FDA and is ready to be put in use in the US.

The Argus II will help patients that have dead or damaged retinal cells. A small video camera mounted in the middle of a pair of glasses captures video and sends the information to a small computer that is worn on the patients belt which processes the video and sends the processed information to the implant in the eye. Electrodes use pulses of electricity to bypass damaged cells and send the information to parts of the eye that still work.

This technology does not completely restore vision for people with total blindness. To qualify for this device, patients must be able to perceive light and tell the difference between light and dark. Despite these limitations, the Argus II still has the ability to improve the quality of life of many people with very poor vision who have trouble doing things independently.

I found this article particularly interesting because it is so incredible to me that a sense as complicated as vision can be partially restored by man-made technology. The way the brain is able to actually interpret and make sense of unnatural visual signals is fascinating. Also, I believe that this advancement in artificial vision serves as proof that one day we will be able to create a new life for people who are born without vision or are blinded at a young age.

Link to article: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/08/04/3080796/duke-researchers-will-offer-bionic.html

Burn Fat, Seize Less

    A diet of 90% fat can reduce seizures in epileptic children by up to 90%. Certain studies have resulted in efficacy rates as high as those seen in all available AEDs (anti-epileptic drugs). This has proven miraculous for many families who suffer through severe drug-resistant childhood epilepsy.

    Dr. Elizabeth Thiele, head of pediatric epilepsy department at a children's hospital associated with Harvard Medical School, placed the author's son on such a diet almost two years prior to the publication of this article, to astounding result.

    Ketogenic (fat-based) diet often works when traditional course of AEDs fail, and the drugs prove impotent against seizures in roughly a third of American epileptics. Vogelstein links to a video (called "Charlie's Speech") from a young man who's life was forever changed by this diet.

   The author, father of an epileptic son, suggests an expansion of the diet's application to other pathologies. He offers the example of solid cancer, because tumors feed on glucose for growth. However, a number of studies have shown that animal protein (casein, to be specific) exacerbates tumor growth to unnerving proportions. When Vogelstein iterates the typical contents of his son's diet, it is rife with animal-derived products. That issue could prove to be a concern.

    It should be noted that this diet isn't intended to last forever. With no intervention, nearly two thirds of children with epilepsy "grow out" of their seizures. For children who don't respond to AEDs, the ketogenic diet could save them from a lifetime of suffering from brain damage incurred in their youth.
   
    Vogelstein includes a beautiful description of the brain in seizure. This piece makes wonderful thought-food for the budding physiologist. His narrative expresses both the desperation of parenthood and the earnestness of a scientific mind. This is a terrific and surprising piece.

    Now, that link down there can transport your screen to this exquisite investigation of the DIY anti-epileptic diet (DIY with an intensely active medical team and technological aids). Read it. Read it now.

    Epilepsy's Big Fat Miracle

Natural Opioids Linked to Chronic Pain

     

        This article discusses how the body's way of numbing acute pain through naturally released opioids can actually result in a reemergence of the pain even after a couple of months. Bradley Taylor, a neurobiologist from The University of Kentucky Medical Center, studied this process in mice and discovered how inhibiting an already activated MOR or mu opioid receptor could cause a relapse in pain.
       The mice were injected in their paws with complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA) which simulates pain caused by inflammation. After the opioids helped to numb the pain in the mice, the researchers meddled with the signaling pathway that released the opioids. The pain once again reemerged in the mice that were initially injected with the CFA. The researchers then were able to note that this reemergence was due to the inhibition of the MOR. When the body gets injured and the opioids are released, the pain eventually subsides but the MOR pathway that releases the opioids is still left on. Essentially opioids bind to the mu opioid receptor, thereby activating the receptor in such a way that even when the opioids are gone, the receptor still inhibits the pain signal that is sent to the brain. This causes the mice to eventually not feel the pain. When the researchers interfered with this process, they stopped the MOR from preventing the pain signal from reaching the brain. This caused the mice to  feel the pain that was initially numbed down by the opioids. The mice also demonstrated signs of withdrawal through jumping and experiencing tremors in their paws leading the researchers to further deduce that the reemergence of the pain could be linked to opioid withdrawal. This was confirmed when adenylyl cyclase type 1 was discovered as it is known to have a correlation with drug addiction.
      I feel that this article is both interesting and important as understanding how our body deals with pain helps us to develop better analgesics. Understanding the advantages and the flaws of our body's response to pain can help scientists create painkillers that don't have the problems that our body has with natural painkillers such as opioids. As there is also a link to drug addiction in this area of research, one can also better understand addiction and develop treatments that help victims overcome their situation and lead a better life. Scientists may even be able to find connections between this process and the way that other neurological responses occur.




Link: http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/37538/title/Natural-Opioids-Linked-to-Chronic-Pain/

Potential Use of Liposomes loaded with nano-particles to pass through the blood-brain barrier

With the engineering design project on the brain, I've begun to find papers that look into the possibility of potentially using liposomes filled with nano-particles to pass through the blood-brain barrier fairly interesting.

Liposomes as a potential drug delivery methodology is still a thing of the future however, research into the potential of this delivery method seems to show a large amount of therapeutic promise, especially when coupled with the use of nano-particles as the main means of  treatment.


The link below takes us to a peer reviewed article where the merits of future drug delivery methods are discussed and weighed.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168365905003305

Nanoshell-Mediated Photothermal Cancer Therapy

       An exciting new method of cancer treatment has been developed and tested. This method was specifically tested for treating gliomas, which are brain tumors that are currently very aggressive and difficult to treat. Nanoshells with non-conducting silica interiors and thin gold exteriors are injected into the body. Within 24 hours, the nanoshells enter the tumors and are activated by near-infrared light. The activated nanoshells heat up the tumors, which destroys them irreversibly. 

       This method was tested on tumor-induced mice. The control group was injected with saline solution and then treated with a near-infrared laser. The experimental group was injected with the nanoshells. Their blood was tested for the presence of gold to determine that after 24 hours the nanoshells had concentrated inside the tumor. Ninety days after the treatment, over half of the nanoshell group was still alive and remained tumor free. None of the control group survived more than 24 days.
       This breakthrough is important to me because cancer has affected many lives around me. I decided as a child that my goal in life was to find cures for cancer, so improvements in that field are very exciting to me. This is also very important for everyone because gliomas are currently very difficult to treat. Only 5% of patients survive over 5 years, and half die within one year of being diagnosed. This is also an inspiration to us as engineers that nothing is impossible, sometimes you just need to be creative with the solution.

Tessa Bronez

Follow these links for more information:

Science Daily

National Cancer Institute

Animation

Literature

Smartphones for Fat-Burning

Researchers at NTT Docomo have been working on designing a small breathalyzer that could help people stay on track with their fitness and health goals.  The breathalyzer would measure levels of acetone on the breath and would be able to tell people if they are burning fat or not.  Acetone is the byproduct of the fat burning chemical process and concentration levels of acetone are only raised in the exhaled air of those exercised and followed a healthy diet.  This breathalyzer would also be beneficial for those with diabetes since diabetics tend to burn fat more quickly due to their inability to absorb blood glucose.  To make this device effective, two semiconductor-based sensors are used, one to measure the amount of acetone and the other to screen out the reading of other gases such as hydrogen and ethanol.  This makes the device effective at reading only the concentration of acetone on the breath.  The latest versions of the breathalyzer have Bluetooth capability that allows them to be connected to smartphones, making readings quick and simple to attain. 

I found this article interesting because my aunt is a Type 1 diabetic and is always looking for ways to make her life simplify her life.  In her early twenties she became blind and now relies on “talking” devices to help her keep track with things in her life including: blood glucose levels, insulin shots, medications, doctors appointments, daily calorie intake, exercise schedule, and weight level.  New technology has made this much easier and she is now able to use her smartphone to keep track of these things.  I believe that this new breathalyzer could benefit her and others looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  

http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/biomedical/devices/smartphone-breathalyzer-sniffs-out-fatburning-exercise

Bioengineered Rat Kidney Produces Urine

The Massachusetts General Hospital investigators bioengineered rat kidneys and after the transplantation, the kidney fulfilled its function of filtering blood and thus producing urea. This process was done by extracting the living cells from a donor organ with the specific detergent solution and repopulating the collagen scaffold with kidney cells from newborn rats as well as human endothelial cells to replace the lining of the vascular system. To preserve the kidney’s complexity, the research team decellularized rat kidneys. After making sure the cells were transplanted on the scaffold with the appropriate portions of the collagen scaffold, the team delivered vascular cells through the renal artery and kidney cells through the ureter. Adjusting the pressures in the bioreactor for 12 consecutive days enabled the cells to be dispersed throughout the entire organ. To test if the organ properly functioned, the team placed the organ in a device that passed blood through its vascular system and drained any urine, showing that blood was being filtered thus, producing urine.

I found this article interesting because there are about 100,000 Americans facing end-stage kidney failure and are unable to find a donor in time. Even those who receive donor organs face the challenge of immunosuppression due to the drugs that must be taken after a transplant. This technology would use the patient’s own cells which would bypass chronic immunosuppression and shortage of donors.

In short, I recommend reading this article because it also provides a video visualization of the entire process. 

http://bioengineer.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=348:bioengineered-kidney-makes-urine-after-transplantation&catid=89&Itemid=494

Regaining the Sense of Touch

Prosthetic hands have progressed significantly in the past few years in terms of functionality and general mechanics, but there is still one aspect of prosthesis’ that hasn't vastly improved, touch. The sense of touch has proved to be the most difficult aspect to manipulate amongst prosthetic hands, due to the varying factors of pressure, vibration, and temperature. The majority of prosthetic hands are controlled by visual cues and physical movements by the user, not on the natural sense of touch. This makes handling fragile objects nearly impossible and a major impedance of using a prosthetic device. The developers from SynTouch LLC sought to fix this problem through the development of BioTac. BioTac is a liquid-filled, biomimetic tactile sensor that is placed on the finger of a prosthetic for sensing surfaces. It mimics the natural fingertip through pressure sensing and measuring directional forces due to the displacement of the fluid in the elastic skin. This information can then be relayed back to the prosthetic device to which it is attached in order to stop constriction and maintain control of the object. The sensors used to comprise BioTac are complex due to the three-dimensional nature of sensing, which complicates matters for the signaling process. Beyond rudimentary signaling devices, such as tactors, effective communication from the BioTac hasn’t been achieved. Tactors, such as an air pressure cuff, can give the person using the BioTac an idea of how much pressure is being applied to the object through a set response. The goal for the signaling process is to for the individual to be able to control the prosthetic through his/her thoughts. Targeted Muscle Reinnervation has proven to be successful for some prosthetic patients to be able to “feel” the presence of a limb. Through the use of this surgery, BioTac, and coordination with the brain, the restoration of touch is not all too unfeasible.  

                The advancement of biomedical devices, such as BioTac, are fascinating to me in that they can significantly improve the life of an individual. For people to have lost a sense, and then to be able to regain that sense through a device is amazing in my opinion. Positively changing people’s lives through biomedical implantation should be the ultimate goal of this portion of biomedical engineering.

               

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/32513/title/Missing-Touch/

Bioengineers Develop New Approach to Regenerate Back Discs

            Having myself a displacement of one of my back discs, I found an article that I consider really interesting. It talks about how some scientists from Duke University are testing a treatment to regenerate back discs.

            The way they’re trying to approach the problem is by injecting a liquid that will change to a gel and maintain the cells in the location they’re needed. To accomplish this, the gel imitates laminin which is a protein that allows injected cells to attach and remain in place, it may also help cells live longer and help stop degeneration.

            This article can be found by accessing this website: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130716120108.htm

LINX Reflux Management System

The article I have chosen to share outlines a new procedure being developed to offer a better solution to acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). As the article describes, about ten percent of the western population is affected by this disease, and while pharmaceutical and surgical treatments exist, there remains a sizable population for which these treatments are not enough.  In order to better treat all patients, the new LINX Reflux Management System is designed to be a permanent treatment which is surgically implanted around the esophagus.  This system consists of a series of 10-18 titanium beads with magnetic cores interlinked with independent titanium wires to form an expandable ring.  This ring is then implanted around the outside of the lower esophageal sphincter, which in GERD patients does not completely close.  The magnets help this sphincter at the base of the esophagus close fully by adding an attractive force between 7 and 40 g while still allowing food to pass through to the stomach.

This article was of special interest to me as I was diagnosed with this disease a number of years ago.  I also felt that this new therapy was an interesting biomedical engineering achievement with the use of magnets to apply appropriate force without compromising the function of the sphincter.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3667475/