Recent years have seen rapid advances in the preclinical development and clinical evaluation of oncolytic (cancer-lysing) virus-based therapies, and these are emerging as treatment modality for some cancers. There are challenges to address, however, if we are to maximize the impact of these therapies in patients.
In just a few years, technology will merge with our bodies in unimaginable ways and push the boundaries of what it is to be human. While medical technology still aims at remediating disabilities, cyborgs strive to something else: a merging of man and machine with the goal of enhancing human capabilities.
The first cyborgs are already crossing the boundaries of their human limits just for the sake of it – at home, in basement workshops and tattoo parlours, using low-tech equipment and a do-it-yourself attitude. They are a tiny minority, seen by many as weird or crazy experimenters, but in the near future we may call them pioneers.
Continue reading “Cyborgs: Pushing the Boundaries of ‘Human’ | Science & Technology Documentary” »
Forget about life-work-balance. A new generation of drugs promises unlimited increases in productivity without the need for rest or sleep.
“Brain doping” is the latest trend among high flyers. Pharmaceutical companies are developing pills that increase mental capability, stimulate desire, and heighten mood. A meaningful life full of happiness and success – without side effects.
Chinese researchers used stem cells from macaques to culture embryo-like structures in a lab.
Using stem cells from a monkey embryo, a team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) successfully cultured embryo-like structures in lab conditions, but they didn’t just stop there.
Continue reading “In a first, scientists create embryos in a lab from stem cells of monkey” »
Aging is something that we all have to go through. Or at least we thought it was before tech CEOs started investing billions of dollars in anti-aging and longevity research start-ups. Sam Altman of ChatGPT fame turned out to be the mysterious $180 million investor that kickstarted Retro Sciences’ research on the topic.
A biotech company based in Silicon Valley, Retro Biosciences has taken on the mission of adding 10 more years to human life and they are planning to do so by using their collective knowledge of cellular reprogramming, autophagy, and plasma-inspired therapeutics. But they have an ace up their sleeve. They are going to use machine-learning-based computational biology and lab automation to help with the project. This must’ve sparked the interest of the OpenAI CEO if he went on to invest a good chunk of his liquid net worth in the project. This is not the first case of a tech billionaire investing in longevity and anti-aging.
Continue reading “This is Why the ChatGPT Founder is Investing $180M in Life Extension” »
Deep brain stimulation is a surgical procedure where electrodes are placed in specific areas of the brain. The electrodes are connected by wires to a small device, similar to a pacemaker, that is placed under the skin in the chest area.
The electrodes create electrical pulses that override abnormal signals that could cause neurological issues.
There has also recently been a move toward developing less invasive methods for deep brain stimulation.
Cancer is defined by cell cycle deregulation and uncontrolled growth. It is the second leading cause of death in the world. In the United States alone there were 1,658,370 new cancer cases diagnosed, 589,430 cancer deaths and an estimated 750,000 deaths in Europe.
We are fighting a losing battle?
IV Vitamin C for Cancer and Vitamin K3.
Antibiotic resistance is a major public health threat, ranked as one of the top 10 by the World Health Organization. Every year, in the United States alone, nearly 3 million people are infected by drug-resistant bacteria and fungi, resulting in the death of around 35,000. While antibiotics are crucial in treating infections, overuse has led to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. These infections pose a significant challenge to treatment.
Now, Professor John E. Moses of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has developed a new weapon to combat drug-resistant superbugs – an innovative antibiotic that has the ability to shape-shift by rearranging its atoms.
Moses came up with the idea of shape-shifting antibiotics while observing tanks in military training exercises. With rotating turrets and nimble movements, the tanks could respond quickly to possible threats.
The World Health Organization confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus disease in the central African country of Equatorial Guinea on February 13, 2023. To date, there have been 11 deaths suspected to be caused by the virus, with one case confirmed. Authorities are currently monitoring 48 contacts, four of whom have developed symptoms and three of whom are hospitalized as of publication. The WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are assisting Equatorial Guinea in its efforts to stop the spread of the outbreak.
Marburg virus and the closely related Ebola virus belong to the filovirus family and are structurally similar. Both viruses cause severe disease and death in people, with fatality rates ranging from 22% to 90% depending on the outbreak. Patients infected by these viruses exhibit a wide range of similar symptoms, including fever, body aches, severe gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting, lethargy and sometimes bleeding.
We are virologists who study Marburg, Ebola, and related viruses. Our laboratory has a long-standing interest in researching the underlying mechanisms of how these viruses cause disease in people. Learning more about how Marburg virus is transmitted from animals to humans and how it spreads between people is essential to preventing and limiting future outbreaks.
There is no stable microbial community residing in the bloodstream of healthy humans, according to a new study led by a UCL researcher.
The new Nature Microbiology paper makes an important confirmation as blood donations are a crucial part of medical practice. Understanding what types of microbes may be found in blood may allow the development of better microbial tests in blood donations, which would minimize the risk of transfusion-related infections.
Lead author, Ph.D. student Cedric Tan (UCL Genetics Institute and Francis Crick Institute) said, Human blood is generally considered sterile. While sometimes microorganisms will enter the bloodstream such as via a wound or after tooth-brushing, mostly this is quickly resolved by the immune system.
