MedTech News
MIT engineers develop drug delivery patch for post-heart attack healing
Engineers at MIT say they developed a flexible drug delivery patch for promoting healing and tissue regeneration after heart attacks.
DNA discovery could help identify mothers at risk of pre-eclampsia
The human genome is riddled with relics of viral infections—bits of DNA from viruses that have been inserted in human DNA over millions of years and never left. Most are silent but some have taken on functional roles, particularly in organs that evolve relatively rapidly, including the placenta.
Tool unmasks deep psychological and societal factors for medication nonadherence
A pioneering patient-reported outcome tool, developed by health care company Observia with the support of Kingston University, has shown significant promise in predicting the risk of a patient with chronic conditions not following their treatment plan, while also uncovering the deep psychological and social reasons driving the patient’s decision making.
Scientists create artificial retina phantom to standardize eye disease diagnosis equipment
The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) has developed a retina-mimicking eye phantom that faithfully replicates the structural layers and microvascular network of the human retina. This innovation provides a new reference for objectively evaluating and calibrating ophthalmic imaging devices, paving the way for more accurate and reliable diagnosis of retinal diseases.
CRISPR screen identifies new regulator of androgen receptor in prostate cancer
A poorly characterized protein, historically thought to be a chaperon or enzyme, may actually be a key player in prostate cancer. In a systematic CRISPR screen, scientists from Arc Institute, UCSF, and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center have identified PTGES3, known as the third prostaglandin E synthase protein, as an unexpected regulator of the androgen receptor.
Imaging technique maps the brain’s nerve fiber labyrinth with micrometer precision
In order to understand brain diseases, neuroscientists try to untangle the intricate nerve fiber labyrinth of our brain. Before analyzing brain tissue under a microscope, it is often soaked in paraffin wax to achieve high-quality sections. However, accurately mapping the densely packed nerves inside wax-treated brain slices was so far not possible.
Caricature-inspired brain mapping method sharpens forecasts of cognitive and emotional traits
Caricature artists exaggerate distinctive features of an individual, deepening a cleft chin or multiplying freckles. Yale researchers have now applied a similar approach to maps of neural connections, emphasizing individual differences to see if they yield useful information.
New therapeutic brain implants could defy the need for surgery
MIT researchers created microscopic wireless electronic devices that travel through blood and implant in target brain regions, where they provide electrical stimulation.