Menu

Blog

Archive for the ‘biotech/medical’ category: Page 1317

Jul 29, 2021

13 Possible Psoriasis Complications

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, neuroscience

Psoriasis is a lifelong, autoimmune inflammatory disease. It often appears as a skin condition, but it is a systemic condition that can affect many parts of the body.


Psoriasis often causes skin lesions, but also a higher risk of other conditions, such as celiac, inflammatory bowel disease, and mental health issues. Find out more.

Jul 29, 2021

Researchers identify a cellular defect common to familial and sporadic forms of ALS

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics, health, neuroscience

This study builds on an earlier paper by the Rothstein lab that looked at the most common genetic cause of ALS, a mutation in the C9orf72 gene (also referred to as the “C9 mutation”). There, they showed that the C9 mutation produced defects in a structure called the nuclear pore that is responsible for moving proteins and other molecules in and out of the nucleus of cells.


Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive and fatal degenerative disease affecting the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement. “Sporadic” or non-inherited ALS, accounts for roughly 90% percent of cases, and 10% of cases are due to known genetic mutations. By studying lab-grown neurons derived from skin or blood cells from 10 normal controls, eight with an ALS causing mutation, and 17 with non-inherited ALS, researchers have found a possible starting point for the dysfunction that causes the disease. The study, which was published in Science Translational Medicine, was funded in part by the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health.

Using a library of ALS patient-derived , the research team led by Jeffrey Rothstein, M.D., Ph.D., at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, developed induced (iPSC)-derived neurons from the patients’ cultured cells to discover a common defect regardless of whether the cell came from persons with inherited or non-inherited ALS. They report that in ALS nerve cells, there is an accumulation of a protein called CHMP7 in the nucleus of cultured nerve cells as well as in ALS samples from the brain region that controls movement. Treatments that decrease the amount of CHMP7 in the cultured cells prevented a series of abnormalities that are characteristic of ALS.

Continue reading “Researchers identify a cellular defect common to familial and sporadic forms of ALS” »

Jul 29, 2021

FDA clears Synchron’s brain-computer interface device for human trials

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, computing, Elon Musk, finance, neuroscience

A company that makes an implantable brain-computer interface (BCI) has been given the go-ahead by the Food and Drug Administration to run a clinical trial with human patients. Synchron plans to start an early feasibility study of its Stentrode implant later this year at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York with six subjects. The company said it will assess the device’s “safety and efficacy in patients with severe paralysis.” https://www.engadget.com/fda-brain-computer-interface-clinic…ml?src=rss


A company that makes an implantable has been given the go-ahead by the Food and Drug Administration to run a clinical trial with human patients. Synchron plans to start an early feasibility study of its Stentrode implant later this year at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York with six subjects. The company said it will assess the device’s “safety and efficacy in patients with severe paralysis.”

Synchron received the FDA’s green light ahead of competitors like Elon Musk’s. Before such companies can sell BCIs commercially in the US, they need to prove that the devices work and are safe. The FDA will provide guidance for trials of BCI devices for patients with paralysis or amputation during a webinar on Thursday.

Continue reading “FDA clears Synchron’s brain-computer interface device for human trials” »

Jul 28, 2021

CRISPR breaks ground as a one-shot treatment for a rare disease

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

CRISPR reached a big milestone this year by treating a disease inside the body—here’s what’s next for the technology.

Jul 28, 2021

This 20-person biotech firm just beat Elon Musk’s Neuralink in getting the OK to test brain chip implants in humans with paralysis

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, computing, Elon Musk, neuroscience

Synchron has beat rival Neuralink to human trials of its “implantable brain computer interface.”

The chip will be studied in six patients later this year as a possible aid for paralyzed people.

Elon Musk previously used Neuralink’s chip in a monkey, which then played video games with its mind.

Continue reading “This 20-person biotech firm just beat Elon Musk’s Neuralink in getting the OK to test brain chip implants in humans with paralysis” »

Jul 28, 2021

Elon Musk says population collapse could be ‘greatest risk to the future of civilization’

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, Elon Musk

He is absolutely correct. If anything he down played the danger.

In addition to fewer people being born than dying, it’s that, with life spans now far greater than ever before, the percentage of the population MOST in need of medical services will increase at the same time, with fewer doctors, fewer nurses, fewer researchers, and far more resources needed for all of it.

To put it in a more cinematic way, think less “Soylent Green” and more “I Am Legend”.

Continue reading “Elon Musk says population collapse could be ‘greatest risk to the future of civilization’” »

Jul 28, 2021

How An Altered Strand Of DNA Can Cause Malaria-Spreading Mosquitoes To Self-Destruct

Posted by in categories: bioengineering, biotech/medical, genetics, health

Despite years of efforts, malaria remains a major health problem. The mosquito-borne parasitic disease sickens more than 200 million people every year and kills more than 400000, many of whom are children.


For the first time, scientists have shown that a new kind of genetic engineering can crash populations of malaria-spreading mosquitoes.

In the landmark study, published Wednesday in the journal Nature Communications, researchers placed the genetically modified mosquitoes in a special laboratory that simulated the conditions in sub-Saharan Africa, where they spread the deadly disease.

Continue reading “How An Altered Strand Of DNA Can Cause Malaria-Spreading Mosquitoes To Self-Destruct” »

Jul 28, 2021

New Research Finds Children With Autism Have a Distinctive Gut Microbiome

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, neuroscience

Several Clostridium species enriched in children with autism closely interacted with each other and formed a connected group. Clostridia species have been linked with autism via the production of clostridial toxins which can damage the central nervous system, point out the researchers.


Significantly fewer gut bugs linked to neurotransmitter activity.

Children with autism seem to have a distinctive and underdeveloped range and volume of gut bacteria (microbiome) that isn’t related to their diet, suggests a small study published online in the journal Gut.

Continue reading “New Research Finds Children With Autism Have a Distinctive Gut Microbiome” »

Jul 28, 2021

Gerostate passes crowdfunding goal for antiaging drug platform

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, life extension

With around two weeks still remaining in its crowdfunding campaign, Buck Institute incubated start-up Gerostate Alpha has cruised through its minimum funding target of $300000. The company also revealed that Longevitytech.fund has joined the round as a lead investor, bringing the total investment in the company to more than $500000 so far.

“At Longevitytech.fund, we invest in start-ups focused on aging that will materially ‘move the needle,’” says the investment firm’s managing partner, Petr Sramek. “The team at Gerostate Alpha is poised to do just that in the coming years, and we are very excited to partner with them for the long haul.”

Longevity. Technology: For early stage biotech companies, particularly those targeting aging, securing funding is a constant challenge. Gerostate Alpha is “testing the water” by exploring crowdfunding as another financing option, and seems to have had some success with it. We caught up with the company’s co-founders Simon Melov and Mark Lucanic to find out more.

Jul 27, 2021

The effect of high intensity interval training on telomere length and telomerase activity in non-athlete young men

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, life extension

Exercise: Good for your mind, body, and telomeres!


Introduction: Telomeres are DNA portions that are located on the two ends of the chromosome. Telomeres play an important role in cellular life. Exercise is one of the factors that contributes to their control. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of high intensity interval training (HIIT) on telomere length and telomerase activity in non-athletic young men. Materials and methods: 30 inactive students were selected as sample and randomly divided into two groups of exercise (15 people) and control (15 people) in this semi-experimental study. The exercise group performed 8 weeks of HIIT exercise in 3 sessions per week with an intensity of 150 to 175% of their maximum power (Pmax). Control group subjects did not do regular sport activities. To measure telomere length and telomerase activity, 10 ml of blood was taken from the brachial vein of the subjects 24 hours before the first and after the last exercise session. The dependent t was used to analyze intra-group and independent t for within-group differences. Results: The findings of this study showed that 8 weeks of HIIT training in non-athlete young men resulted in a significant increase in telomere length (P = 0.001) and telomerase activity (P = 0.001). Conclusion: It seems that HIIT can alter telomerase activity and telomere length. Therefore, these training may have a positive effect on cell biology.