Organ transplant rejection may not be permanent

Rejection of transplanted organs in hosts that were previously tolerant may not be permanent, report scientists from the University of Chicago. Using a mouse model of cardiac transplantation, they found that immune tolerance can spontaneously recover after an infection-triggered rejection event, and that hosts can accept subsequent transplants as soon as a week after. This process depends on regulatory T-cells, a component of the immune system that acts as a "brake" for other immune cells. The findings, published online in Nature Communications on July 7, support inducing immune tolerance as a viable strategy to achieve life-long transplant survival.

"Transplantation tolerance appears to be a resilient and persistent state, even though it can be transiently overcome," said Anita Chong, PhD, professor of transplantation surgery at the University of Chicago and co-senior author of the study. "Our results change the paradigm that immune memory of a transplant rejection is invariably permanent."

To prevent transplant rejection in patients with end-stage organ failure, a lifelong regimen of immune-suppressing drugs is almost always required. While difficult to achieve, immune tolerance - in which a transplanted organ is accepted without long-term immunosuppression - can be induced in some patients. However, rejection can still be triggered by events such as bacterial infection, even after long periods of tolerance. It has been assumed that the immune system remembers rejection and prevents future transplants from being tolerated.

Safe Medication To Treat Binge Eating Disorder (BED) Studied

Binge-Eating Disorder (BED) is an eating disorder where a person is compelled to eat large quantities of food over a short period of time even when the person is not hungry. This is done on a regular basis through regular binges.

Doctors at the Lindner Center of HOPE is studying the effectivity of the medication lisdexamfetamine dimesylate in decreasing the days patients with BED would binge eat, compared to a placebo. The medicine is currently being used for treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

This is a significant discovery since to date, there is no approved medication for BED. It has been noted that Binge-Eating Disorder is associated symptoms of mental illness and obesity. Randomized clinical trials on the use of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate in treating BED have been conducted in 2011 to 2012 covering 500 patients with the eating disorder with positive results.

Ongoing clinical trials being conducted may lead to a safe and improved pharmacologic treatment for moderate to severe BED.

Annual Economic Cost of Psoriasis Estimated at over $110 Billion

A review article on the the effect of Psoriasis on the U.S economy was published online by JAMA Dermatology. The authors reviewed factors that have a direct, indirect, intangible and comorbidity (presence of one or more additional disorders) costs of adult psoriasis and estimate that the annual U.S. cost of psoriasis for 2013 to be between $112 billion and $135 billion.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. It causes the skin to be irritable and form thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches called scales. These scales are dead skin cells that form on the surface.

The disease occurs when the immune system mistakes healthy skin cells as a threat and attacks it. It sends out a signal to speed up the growth of new skin cells. Dead skin cells builds up on the skin surface which become scales.

By releasing an estimated annual cost of the Psoriasis, researchers believe it will help develop cost effective therapies that will help alleviate this economic burden and improve patient outcome.

Health Mechanics of Flavanols in Dark Chocolate Discovered

Chocolate, specifically its main ingredient cocao, is known to have health benefits. It is one of the most popular food today. On average, a person would consume ten pounds of it annually.

Although, scientists look at a category of flavonoids called flavonols as the reason for its healthy properties, the exact reason why has been unknown for years. Scientists now believe they have pinpointed the reason for this in findings that. were unveiled at the 247th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

They explain that the abundant flavanols in cocoa such as catechin, epicatechin and polymers are consumed by certain bacteria in the stomach and convert it into anti-inflammatory compounds that are good for the heart.

Flavonoids (the main category of flavanols) can be found naturally in fruits, vegetables and beverages (tea, coffee, dark chocolate, beer, wine and fruit drinks). Flavonoids possess beneficial effects on human health as they are said to have antiviral, anti-allergic, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and perform antioxidant activities.

Bio-Nanotechnology and Nanoscopic Energy : One Step Closer to Biodegradable Medical Implants

Credit: John Rogers

Scientists are close to developing biodegradable electronic devices which can lead to green consumer electronics and bio-resorbable medical devices that are rendered completely harmless after performing its job. These class of electronics which dissolve completely in water combined with advances in nanoscopic energy opens up practical application specially in the medical field. This innovation was presented at the 247th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society.

Researchers are studying various materials to construct these biodegradable devices from magnesium and silicon to silk and even rice paper. Combined with research into nanoscopic energy (using power sources such as thermodynamic energy or chemical energy to power nanomaterials), medical applications such as studying the brain after head injuries, and other body sensors that vanish once its work is done are slowly becoming a strong possibility.

These future application have a lot of positive factors going for it such as a very low risk of infection, non-invasive removal procedures (it dissolves in water), and with studies into renewable energy source; does not require batteries that may contain toxic materials.

Vitamin C Lowers Risk of Hemorrhagic Stroke

The American Academy of Neurology released a study citing that Vitamin C, often found in citrus fruits, lowers risk of hemorrhagic stroke. The study will be presented at the AAN's 66th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia which starts on April 26.

The study noted that the 65 test subjects they used who had suffered an intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke (a blood vessel rupture inside the brain) had depleted levels of vitamin C. They also studied 65 healthy participants and noted that these had normal vitamin C levels.

A 2012 study published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association also showed that a category of flavonoids found in citrus fruits may reduce stroke risk. This earlier study notes that the flavonoids may provide stroke protection such as improved blood vessel function and an anti-inflammatory effect.

A hemorrhagic stroke is a result from a weakened vessel that ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain. It is far more dangerous than an ischemic stroke.

Men Lead A Better Quality Of Life After A Stroke Than Women

Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center find that men lead a better quality of life than women after have a stroke. Three months after suffering a stroke, the study shows that women were more likely than men to report problems with mobility, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression.

According to the American Heart Association. women face higher risk of stroke than men with 1 out of 5 women experiencing a stroke sometime in her life. They also note that 55,000 more women than men suffer from a stroke each year. It is the 3rd cause of death for women while it is the 4th for men.

A stroke is a condition when blood to the brain is cut off. Because of this, the brain is deprived of oxygen and immediately starts to deteriorate. Stroke victims suffer physical impairment, mood and behavioral swings, and bouts of depression afterwards. Rehabilitation is a long journey for stroke victims

Quality of life refers to the well being of a person. With regards to healthcare, it includes the physical and mental health perceptions, functional status, social support, and socioeconomic status.

Updated Evidence Based Guideline on Acute Otitis Externa Released

The American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery Foundation released an updated evidence-based guideline to improve the diagnosis and treatment of Acute Otitis Externa (AOE) or swimmer's ear.

Acute Otitis Externa is an infection of the outer ear caused by bacteria multiplying in the ear canal due to trapped water. It is prevalent during summer and warm climates when increased ear exposure to water is at a high.

Aside from bacteria and water, swimmer's ear can also be caused by skin conditions that may contribute to debris in the ear canal, trauma from aggressive ear cleaning, trauma from wearing hearing aids, sweating, allergies, and stress.

Symptoms of acute otitis externa are inflammation, itching, a feeling of fullness with or without hearing loss, and pain when tugging on the earlobe or chewing food. Analgesics and eardrops are commonly used to treat the condition. These usually include antiseptics, antibiotics, and corticosteroids. The most effective treatment for AOE is eardrops because of the high local concentration of drug in the ear canal.

Oral medication is not as effective because of drug resistance and low concentration achieved in the ear canal compared to a topical method such as eardrops. Avoiding water accumulation and moisture retention in the external ear canal, and maintaining a healthy skin barrier can prevent AOE.

The guideline was released to promote the use of analgesics and topical treatments and discourage oral therapy which is deemed ineffective and has adverse effects. The update also includes new and updated clinical trials, systematic reviews, and the participation experts in various fields.

American Heart Association Releases 2014 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update

The American Heart Association (AHA) with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies compiled the 2014 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update. The report is the only source for current prevalence data on cardiovascular health and is published in the journal, Circulation.

The AHA statistical report updates statistics on heart disease, stroke, other vascular diseases and their risk factors.

With one in six deaths in the US resulting from heart disease, it is the number one cause of death in the U.S. Stroke is the 4th ranking cause of death in the US with one in nineteen deaths.

Studying the Validity of Stem Cell Therapy on Spinal Cord Injuries

A new study conducted a meta-analysis of previous lab experiments in 156 previously published studies on the effects of stem cell treatment for spinal cord injury.

The paper, "Stem Cell Transplantation in Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Animal Studies", is published in the open access journal PLOS Biology by Ana Antonic, David Howells and colleagues from the Florey Institute and the University of Melbourne, Australia, and Malcolm MacLeod and colleagues from the University of Edinburgh, UK. It addresses the validity of stem cell therapy on spinal cord injuries.

The study finds that stem cell treatment results in about a 25% average improvement in both sensory and motor outcomes.

The spinal cord, combined with the brain, makes up the Central Nervous System (CNS). It is about 43 cm (17 in) to 45 cm (18 in) long and around 0.25 to 0.50 inches thick.

The spinal cord transmits the neural signals from the brain to the rest of the body. Neural circuits that can independently control numerous reflexes and central pattern generators also can be found in the spinal cord.

The spinal cord is very delicate, any major damage to the spinal cord may result in death or paralysis. Aside from stem cell therapy, scientists are looking into neuroprosthetics and robotics in treating spinal cord injury.

CPAP Treatment for Sleep Apnea Improves Men's Golf Game

A study shows that men improve their golf game, a 31.5% drop on their handicap, when their sleep apnea is treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. The game improvement is attributed to better concentration, endurance and decision making resulting from the treatment.

Sleep Apnea is a disorder where a person has shallow, obstructed, or paused breathing while asleep. Each pause in breathing is called an apnea. The apnea can vary from a few seconds to a few minutes. A loud snort or choking sound happens when normal breathing resumes.

A person moves out of the deep sleep state into light sleep when breathing is hindered because of sleep apnea. This results in poor sleep quality, fatigue and excessive daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea treatments involve keeping the air passage open, allowing the patient to breath easily. CPAP therapy uses a device that assists in breathing while the person is sleeping. It is a tight fitting face mask that is attached to a machine to regulate breathing.

In the study, after a six month CPAP therapy improves daytime sleepiness, sleep-related quality of life, and an 11 percent drop in their average golf handicap index.

New Device Brings Higher Level Of Recovery Time in Movement For Stroke Patients

A new device based on a functional electrical stimulation system (FES) and a Brain Controlled Interface (BCI) called the Closed-Loop Neural Activity-Triggered Stroke Rehabilitation Device allows stroke patients to move otherwise paralyzed upper extremities, such as arms and hands, by converting their thoughts to electrical impulses to move these limbs.

The device works by interpreting the patients thoughts into a signal through the BCI and that the signal is sent to the FES which moves the targeted limb. The patient just has to think or imagine moving his hand and the device will send the proper signals to the hand to do so.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is cut off, depriving it of oxygen. When this happens, the brain starts deteriorating after a few minutes causing physical disability, depression, loss of motor skills, mood swings, loss of cognitive abilities (slow thinking, logic, familiarization), and even death.

Stroke is the 4th leading cause of death in the US with a person suffering from one every 40 seconds.

Ischemic strokes are the most popular type of stroke with 87% of all strokes being Ischemic in nature. An ischemic stroke happens when blood clots form in the arteries which blocks or restricts blood flow to the brain. The other type of stroke is a Hemorrhagic Stroke.

Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel bursts in the brain (similar to a brain aneurysm). 30% of stroke fatalities come from this type of stroke.

Increased Pediatric Ingestion Related Injuries Due to Neodymium Supermagnets

The rise in popularity in the use of neodymium magnets as desktop ornaments and toys have lead to a rise in ingestion related injuries for toddlers and preteens. In a study presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, 2,700 ingestions were observed over a ten year period and it was revealed that ninety four of the cases involved magnet ingestion.

The study also revealed that cases of magnet ingestion increased in the last three years of the study with the age of patients ranged from 7 months to 13 years.

Neodymium magnets are the most powerful magnets around. A neodymium magnet a few cubic centimeters small can cause bodily harm from pinching to even causing broken bones.

Magnets have been a popular accessory for preteens where they use the magnetic property to simulate a tongue stud, nose ring, or earring. This kind of use can lead to accidental ingestion or inhalation. Once ingested, they can cause the digestive tract to fold when pinched by two of these magnets which causes internal injuries or even death.

Nanotechnology and Lasers Provide Tool for Antibiotic Research - The Cantilever Sensory Array

This is a visualization of cantilever sensory array technology. Bacteria are shown in red and white, and antibiotics are shown in blue. The laser deflection illustrates how cantilever bending is measured.
Credit: JoVE

The London Center for Nanotechnology has developed a tool to measure antibiotic drug resistance using nanotechnology and lasers. The Cantilever Sensory Array uses lasers to measure the cellular stress levels of a bacteria's cell wall when antibiotics are exposed to it. This will provide researchers insight on how effective the antibiotic works on the bacteria in real time.

Antibiotic resistance is a type of drug resistance where bacteria (or some other micro-organism) are able to survive and counteract the effect of an antibiotic.

This tool can help in dealing with microorganisms that have a high resistance for antibiotics such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which is known for being resistant to antibiotics. Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of skin infections, respiratory disease, and food poisoning. S. aureus is a surface bacteria and can survive for months depending on the strain.

By using the Cantilever Sensory Array, hospitals can track in real time how drug candidates interact with a target microorganism. This will help in diagnosing and treating infections and diseases faster and more effectively.

Treating Baldness By Stimulating Human Hair Growth Through Stem Cell Research and Cloning

Spheres of cultured papillae cells from human hair follicles successfully produced new human hair when transplanted between the dermis and epidermis of human skin.
Credit: Claire Higgins/Christiano Lab at Columbia University Medical Center

Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers have devised a new method in curing baldness and hair loss. The method involves stem cell research, cloning and the use of Dermal papillae cells to encourage hair growth rather than transplanting hair follicles. This method is extremely effective since it does not require hair follicles which some people have a limited number.

Current popular methods in hair regeneration include transplanting human hair follicles one at a time from one area of the body to another, which is simply relocating hair from one area to another; no net gain of follicles. This technique is limited to those who have enough hair follicles to transplant. Even existing hair loss medication only slows down the process of loss or stimulate growth for existing hairs. The new method actually grows new follicles using the patients own cells.

Since this hair follicle neo-genesis method does not require patients to have a steady source of hair follicles, it is a suitable treatment for bald people as well as patients with scarring alopecia, and hair loss due to burns. It encourages hair growth by cloning and using cultured human dermal papillae cells. These cells are crucial in hair formation, growth and cycling. They bring nutrients and oxygen to the lower layers of epidermal cells which is used by the hair follicles.

DNA Methylation Provides Accurate Genetic Clock To Measure Biological Age of Tissues and Organs

A scientist at the University of California- Los Angeles, has discovered a genetic biological clock that accurately measures the biological age of tissues and organs in the body. Using a ntural process called DNA methylation and monitoring 353 biological markers, the clock can measure how each part of the body and its age is comparable to others. The scientist, UCLA geneticist and biostatistician Steven Horvath, Ph.D., noted for example that a woman's breast tissue, age faster than the rest of the body.

DNA methylation is a genetic process that alters the expression of genes in cells as cells divide and differentiate from embryonic stem cells into specific tissues. As mentioned in the embedded video, DNA methylation is similar to a light dimmer switch where it can suppress a specific type of gene from expressing itself.

Using 8,000 samples of 51 types of tissue, Dr. Horvath narrowed focused on 353 biomarkers that change with age and are present throughout the body. These markers measure the biological age of the target tissue rather than its chronological age.

The next step in the research would be to find out if stopping or halting this clock can also stop aging.

Robotic Surgery and Other Medical Machines - An Infographic

Medical technology is catching up with science fiction in terms of machines performing medical procedures. Computers and robots are now becoming a major fixture in medical labs and doctor's offices. Although they cannot possibly replace a human doctor (within this timeline), they can assist medical personnel in diagnosing and even treating some medical conditions.

This infographic by the Healthcare Administration Degree Programs touches on some of the medical marvels of machine, computer, and robotic technology.

One technology that captures the imagination is robotic surgery. Much like the stories of the future, robots now can perform surgical procedures that were once considered delicate and complicated.

It is a technique in which a surgery is performed using a computer that remotely controls very small instruments attached to a robot. The robot ensures more precise incisions since it mitigates some of the hand tremors and unnecessary movements if done by a human surgeon. Also, robotic instruments can access hard-to-reach areas of the body more easily through smaller surgical cuts compared to traditional open and laparoscopic surgery.

Aside from those featured in the infographic, other medical machines that are now being used such as an iPhone ECG app, an artificial pancreatic system, and a pacemaker requiring no batteries can be found at the related links below.

Genetic Discovery Hints at Hereditary Risk of Esophageal Cancer and Barrett's Esophagus

Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia studied the DNA samples and medical data of more than 8,000 patients and have found four genetic variants in DNA that is associated with increased risk of esophageal cancer and Barrett's esophagus.

Barrett's esophagus is a disorder in which the lining of the esophagus (the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach) is damaged by stomach acid and changed to a lining similar to that of the stomach. There is a small chance that people afflicted with Barrett's esophagus develop esophageal cancer.

Previously, esophageal cancer and its precursor, Barrett's esophagus are blamed on factors such as obesity, gastroesophageal reflux , smoking and an unhealthy diet. This latest discovery hints that the disease can also be hereditary.

Aquarium Based Skin Disease Caused by Mycobacterium Marinum Bacteria is Under-diagnosed

Aquarium Granuloma, a skin disease that is commonly associated with aquariums is under-diagnosed according to a study presented at the Infectious Diseases Society of America's annual meeting in San Francisco.

Aquarium granuloma is caused by the Mycobacterium marinum bacteria. The bacteria is a a non-tuberculous mycobacterium found in non-chlorinated water. Infection starts when an open wound on the arm or hand is exposed to the bacteria. The disease causes skin lesions and takes from 11 to 56 days to incubate.

People most susceptible to Aquarium Granuloma are those who work with fish or own aquariums

According to the study, patients with the disease may not associate it with aquariums because of the prolonged incubation period. Also, people do not usually tend to think of aquariums being host to bacteria. This may lead to the patient not getting the appropriate treatment.

Nanotechnology Based Vaccine Developed Provides Efficient, Targeted, and Needle-Free Protection

The immune response generated by delivering lipid nanocapsules loaded with anti-cancer antigens (left) is compared to the same response generated by traditional soluble vaccines (right). Blue stain marks nuclei of cells in the tissue. Lung tissue sections immunized with the lipid nanocapsule vaccine show sustained retention of nanocapsule-loaded antigens (red) in the tissue near antigen-presenting cells (green). This retention is not discernible in the lung tissue immunized with the soluble vaccine. Scale bars 50 µm.
[Credit: Adrienne V. Li, James J. Moon, Darrell J. Irvine]

Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a nanoparticle that can be used as an efficient and targeted drug delivery system for vaccines. The development of the nanoparticle addresses the challenge of dispensing a vaccine through the lungs via an aerosol spray without activating an immune response that neutralizes it.

Vaccines that are dispensed through mucosal points of entry like the nasal cavities have certain advantages such as not requiring a needle, specially during outbreaks where dispensing medication through an aerosol spray is faster, safer, and more econmical.

Mucosal vaccines are a bit challenging since the vaccine has to go through the body's mucosal barrier. This barrier of mucus prevents foreign particals from getting into the body. This recently developed nanocapsule can go through this barrier and go directly to the lungs.

The vaccine can survive in the lungs long enough for it to be delivered to T-cells. T-cells (T lymphocites) are part of the immune system and assist the body in fighting diseases or getting rid of harmful substances. Once in the T-cells, the vaccine gets activated to form a memory of the vaccine particles so it will be primed to respond again during an infection.

They found that immune cells, including memory CD8+ T cells, increased not only in the lungs, but also at distant sites like the intestine, and blood and spleen. This widespread immune response was only detected in mice given the vaccine via the lung route, but not the skin route, indicating that the administration site is an important factor for non-live vaccines.