Medical News Observer

Keep updated with latest medical research news

Computer simulations help understand lung cancer drug resistance

Scientists from the Universities of Bristol and Parma, Italy, have used computer simulations to understand drug resistance to osimertinib. Findings of this study are published in journal Chemical Science. Osimertinib works by binding to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is over expressed in many tumors. EGFR is involved in a pathway that signals for…
New imaging based biomarker to predict success of atrial fibrillation treatment

Researchers report successful use of biomarker based on heart imaging to predict the usefulness of catheter ablation to treat atrial fibrillation (Afib). Researchers analyzed the level of dys-synchrony in the left atrium as useful biomarker for success of the catheter ablation. The study is published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular…
Functioning human kidney tissue produced from stem cells.

Scientists have successfully produced human kidney tissue within a living organism which is able to produce urine. The study led by Professors Sue Kimber and Adrian Woolf from The University of Manchester, signifies a significant milestone in the development of treatment for kidney disease.This research is published in the journal Stem Cell Reports. Kidney glomeruli …
Clinical trial shows feasibility of lung regeneration using stem cells

A research team from Tongji University in China have made a breakthrough in human lung regeneration technology. Researchers have regenerated patients’ damaged lungs using autologous lung stem cell transplantation in a pilot clinical trial. The study results are published in journal Protein & Cell. In 2015, Professor Zuo and his colleagues identified p63+/Krt5+ adult stem…
Big data from smart thermometer utilized to track and predict flu activity.

A study by researchers at the University of Iowa shows that anonymous data from a “smart thermometer” connected to a mobile phone app can track flu activity in real time at both population and individual levels. They also showed that this data can be used to improve flu forecasting. The study findings are published in…
Animal studies show that naturally occurring peptide catestatin has potential as anti-obesity and type 2 diabetes treatment

Research by team from University of California San Diego School of Medicine shows that treating obese mice with catestatin (CST), a peptide naturally occurring in the body, showed significant improvement in glucose and insulin tolerance and reduced body weight. In a study published in journal Diabetes, researchers identified catestatins’s role in the recruitment and function…
Adults with autism spectrum disorder showed good results with cognitive enhancement therapy compared to enriched supportive therapy

While there have been advances in early detection and many studies involving the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), few efforts to date have focused on interventions for adults. These individuals experience significant challenges throughout adulthood, including unemployment, social impairment and poor quality of life. It is believed that the challenges people with…
Research suggests possibility of vaccine development against Staphylococcal skin infections

Researchers have discovered how the immune system might protect a person from recurrent bacterial skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (staph). The findings, publishing online this week in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, provides new opportunities to developing vaccines to prevent staph skin infections, which account for 14 million outpatient visits, nearly 500,000 hospital admissions…
New cellular data recording technology utilizing CRISPR

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have modified bacterial immune system of human gut microbe Escherichia coli, enabling the bacteria to not only record their interactions with the environment but also time-stamp the events. They have turned bacteria into a microscopic data recorder, creating groundwork for a new class of technologies that could use bacterial…
Digital pill biosensors for monitoring opioid medication use

In a research paper published in the Anesthesia & Analgesia, Brigham and women’s hospital investigators report on the results from a pilot study of 15 individuals who received a prescription to take oxycodone digital pills as needed following treatment for acute fractures. Recently first digital pill was approved by the FDA for use with the…