MedTech News
.................... by Andrew Celentano
New genetic insights could help detect hearing loss earlier
A team of hearing specialists at Vanderbilt Health analyzed thousands of data samples in the institution’s BioVU biobank to understand genetic susceptibility of sensorineural hearing loss, which is caused by damage to the inner ear. Their study is published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Abdominal fluid reveals rare immune cells that may limit attacks on tumors
In a study published in Science Immunology, researchers used malignant ascites—fluid that accumulates in the abdomen of some patients when cancer metastasizes to the abdominal cavity—to uncover immune programs associated with metastatic disease, including a rare population of RORC-expressing dendritic cells not previously linked to human cancer.
Elderly people could live independently for longer thanks to new home sensor system which detects emergencies
Older people could be monitored safely in their own homes without the need for intrusive cameras or wearable devices thanks to new research by Nottingham Trent University (NTU).
A self-disinfecting fabric eliminates bacteria, fungi and viruses in hospital settings
A team has developed a new self-disinfecting cotton fabric capable of eliminating bacteria, fungi and viruses in hospital settings using visible light.
Scientists uncover two-pronged strategy to overcome glioblastoma’s resistance to immunotherapy
Scientists at The Wistar Institute have identified a combination treatment that overcomes two of the biggest barriers to immunotherapy in glioblastoma.
‘Immune fog’ may flag lung cancer risk years before tumor develops
A ‘rising fog’ may cloud the immune system’s ability to detect tumors and may be the key to tackling lung cancer that is developing years before diagnosis. The team at University College London (UCL) followed this signal using prototype blood tests and reversed it using drugs.
Scientists identify the neuroblastoma cells that signal poor outcomes
Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumor found outside the brain in children, yet why some children respond well to treatment while others do not has remained poorly understood.
Shifting immune cells toward cancer-fighting mode: Sugar-coated extensions reveal a potential target
Our bodies contain immune cells called macrophages. Normally, these cells attack and suppress bacteria and cancer cells. However, when macrophages infiltrate tumors, they can become tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and can switch to an immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory state.