Medical News Observer

Research compares different types of electric fields to speed up chronic wound healing

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and the University of Freiburg in Germany have created a compact bioelectronic platform to compare different types of electric stimulation to speed up the healing process for chronic wounds. The study looked at the impact of sustained electric fields on wound healing in healthy and diabetic human…
Researchers Identify Role of FHL5 Gene in Vascular Disease

Researchers at the University of Virginia Health Systems have identified a gene called FHL5 that plays a crucial role in determining the risk for serious vascular conditions such as heart attacks, aneurysms, and coronary artery disease. Researchers utilized a multimodal approach through statistical fine-mapping, epigenomic profiling, and ex vivo analysis of human coronary artery tissues.…
DNA Methylation Analysis Enhances Prediction of Type 2 Diabetes Risk

A study by the University of Edinburgh has found that analyzing DNA methylation (changes to DNA in the blood) can improve the prediction of an individual’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The research was conducted on almost 15,000 individuals from the Generation Scotland cohort to predict the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes years…
NPAS4 genetic biomarker for depression symptoms identified in an animal study

Scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) have identified a stress-regulated gene that is responsible for the link between long-term stress and anhedonia, or the loss of interest in previously pleasurable activities, in an animal study using mice. Research has shown that a transcription factor called NPAS4 in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)…
Smart Bandage to Monitor and Deliver Targeted Treatment for Chronic Wounds

Caltech researchers have developed a new type of smart bandage that uses a custom-developed electrochemical biosensor array to treat chronic wounds, such as diabetic ulcers and burns. The bandage is made of a flexible polymer containing embedded electronics and medication that can monitor molecules, pH levels, and temperature in the wound. The wearable patch is…
Researchers Develop Stretchable Sensor to Monitor Muscle Atrophy

Researchers at The Ohio State University have developed the first wearable sensor to detect and monitor muscle atrophy. The sensor uses stretchable conductive threads in a zig-zag pattern, allowing it to fit various limb sizes. This device could offer an alternative to MRI monitoring. Simulation and in vitro results show good agreement, with the sensor…
Cloud-Based System Using AI and Radio Waves to Monitor Elderly Health

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a cloud-based system for non-contact, real-time monitoring of elderly people’s health in their living spaces without wearable devices. The system employs low-power millimeter-wave radio systems and AI to track individuals’ activities continuously and accurately, alerting healthcare workers to potential health issues or sudden falls. The technology can…
Implantable Multifunctional Sensor using Ultrasoft Hydrogel for Monitoring Overactive Bladder

Researchers from POSTECH and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a highly stretchable and tissue-adhesive multifunctional sensor that can monitor bladder activity in overactive bladder (OAB). The researchers have developed a sensor to monitor the bladder’s mechanical and bioelectrical activities in real-time. The sensor is based on structurally engineered islets embedded…
Real-Life Gait Analysis for Using Millimeter-Wave Radar

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed a method for predicting fall accidents and cognitive illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease by reading a person’s walking pattern with a radar sensor. It involves the use of a millimeter-wave radar to monitor walking steps in real-life environments for the elderly, with the aim of…
Blood-vessel-on-chip to study vascular malformations caused by PIK3CA mutations

Researchers at the University of North Carolina have created a model that mimics vascular malformations (VMs) that are specifically caused by a mutation of PIK3CA. The researchers created a microfluidic model of these VMs using human cells that have the mutated gene. They found that the abnormal blood vessels in their model closely resemble the…