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Genetics testing with lab-on-chip device
" ... A team of researchers at U.Va., including mechanical and electrical engineers, with input from pathologists and physicians, are designing a hand-held device — based on a unit the size of a microscope slide — that houses many of the analytical tools of an entire laboratory, in extreme miniature. The unit can test, for example, a pin-prick-size droplet of blood, and within an hour provide a DNA analysis.
Such a device could be used in a doctor's office, for example, to quickly test for an array of infectious diseases, such as anthrax, avian flu or HIV, as well as for cancer or genetic defects. Because of the quick turn-around time, a patient would be able to wait only a short time on-site for a diagnosis. Appropriate treatment, if needed, could begin immediately..." " ... A team of researchers at U.Va., including mechanical and electrical engineers, with input from pathologists and physicians,... more -
Body exhumed in fight against flu
The body of an aristocrat who died nearly 90 years ago has been exhumed in the hope that it will help scientists combat a future flu pandemic.
Yorkshire landowner Sir Mark Sykes died in France in 1919 from Spanish flu. Sir Mark was buried in a lead coffin which scientists hope may have helped preserve the virus. They believe his remains will help piece together the DNA of Spanish flu, which could have a similar genetic structure to modern bird flu.
This knowledge, added to major breakthroughs by American scientists last year, could help prevent a modern pandemic through the development of new drugs. A church court covering the Diocese of York has authorised the exhumation of the body of Sir Mark, who owned historic Sledmere House near Driffield, after permission was given by his grandchildren. His body will have to be examined in a special air-tight laboratory to avoid any risk of contamination.
(continues at link with vid clip) The body of an aristocrat who died nearly 90 years ago has been exhumed in the hope that it will help scientists combat a future flu p... more -
Plans for human trial of H.I.V. vaccine canceled
Plans for a large human trial of a vaccine against the AIDS virus in the United States were canceled on Thursday because federal health officials said the vaccine was unlikely to prove effective and might increase the risk of H.I.V. infection among volunteers.
The decision is another major setback in efforts to develop an H.I.V. vaccine, which health officials contend would be their best weapon to control the AIDS pandemic. Several other H.I.V. vaccines are in various stages of testing among people in many countries.
Scientists have been trying for more than 25 years to make an effective H.I.V. vaccine. They say that getting one to market — if one is ever developed — is years off.
After a meeting sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in March, many AIDS experts said researchers needed to go back to the drawing board before they could develop an effective vaccine.
The trial canceled on Thursday was supposed to have begun enrolling 8,500 volunteers last October to receive a vaccine developed by the infectious diseases agency. The study is known as PAVE, for Partnership for AIDS Vaccine Evaluation. PAVE is a consortium of United States government agencies and government-financed organizations involved in developing and evaluating experimental H.I.V. vaccines. Its goal is to develop an effective vaccine that no pharmaceutical company or institution is likely to accomplish on its own.
But the PAVE trial was postponed after a test of a similar, much-heralded vaccine made by Merck failed in its two main objectives: to prevent infection and to lower the amount of H.I.V. in the blood among those who did become infected.
Also, the findings among the 3,000 participants in nine countries in which the Merck vaccine was tested suggested it might have increased the risk of becoming infected with H.I.V.
After a safety monitoring committee detected the problems with the Merck vaccine in September, the company stopped its study immediately.
Scientists have found no obvious explanation for the failure of the Merck vaccine, which had been considered the most promising candidate for an H.I.V. vaccine. The infectious diseases agency helped pay for the vaccine trials Plans for a large human trial of a vaccine against the AIDS virus in the United States were canceled on Thursday because federal healt... more -
How Dangerous Are CAT Scans?
Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scans help doctors detect everything from cancer to kidney stones. But some physicians are raising concerns about the safety of such procedures — most notably, an increase in cancer risk. A CT scan packs a mega-dose of radiation — as much as 500 times that of a conventional X-ray.researchers behind two recent studies that sound the alarm about the increased cancer risk associated with multiple CT scans. In the first study of its kind, physicians at hospitals in Florida and Washington, D.C., evaluated the medical-imaging records of 1,243 randomly selected patients to calculate just how much radiation each patient had sustained in the past five years. Although CT scans were the biggest source of radiation, other offenders included X-rays and mammograms. The results of the study, presented in May at the annual conference of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, were disturbing: the average patient had received 45 millisieverts (mSv) of radiation. (The typical chest X-ray dispatches 0.02 mSv of radiation.) And 12% of patients had gotten more than twice that amount — 100 mSv or more. Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scans help doctors detect everything from cancer to kidney stones. But some physicians are raising con... more
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Scientist attempt to cure us from 'lack of sex drive'
Another pill is on the way to cure it all in one go. The Medical Research Council's Human Reproductive Sciences Unit in Edinburgh is apparently working on it right now. This drug will be better than Viagra, because it doesn't just get the body going, it also gets the brain in gear!
When tried on female marmoset monkeys and musk shrews, it worked a treat, leading to tongue-flicking, eyebrow-raising, rump-presentation and tail-wagging, and better still, eating much less. Another pill is on the way to cure it all in one go. The Medical Research Council's Human Reproductive Sciences Unit in Edinburgh... more -
Autism's mysteries remain as numbers grow - CNN.com
What is Autism?
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the army + yoga = the scientific research the medical industry won't fund
the army is handing out $4million in grants to research the effects of alternative therapies on PTSD. therapies proposed for study run the gamut:
"Music, animal-facilitated therapy, art, dance/movement, massage therapy, EMDR [Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing] program evaluation, virtual reality, acupuncture, spiritual ministry, transcendental meditation, [and] yoga," might all be considered worth of the military's largess. So would "biologically-based treatments, botanicals, and nutritional supplements for enhancing cognitive function and mood in patients with trauma spectrum disorders, including TBI and/or PTSD, depression, anxiety, and/or substance dependence/abuse." Even proposals for wild-sounding "therapies using bioenergies such as Qi gong, Reiki, distant healing and acupuncture" would be accepted.
the popular theory is that the only reason these alternative means of healing have not already been further researched is because of the totalitarian grip of the medical/pharmaceutical industry on research $$, so it will be interesting to see what comes of this!
check out the full article above. the army is handing out $4million in grants to research the effects of alternative therapies on PTSD. therapies proposed for study run... more -
Ever feel like your genes are a bit misguided? A gene map is on it's way!
Genes are gonna finally get some directions. One thousand people have agreed to have their genes analysed in a bid to help understand how genes influence disease.
Although a few scientists have offered themselves up for the so-called 'gene mapping,' this will be the first time such a large quantity of people have undergone the research. Previous 'maps' have come from Craig Venter and the controversially 'part-African' DNA pioneer, Dr. Watson.
Praise for the research has already been received from the UK and China with them saying that "the project will create the most useful catalogue ever of genetic variation."
I'd have my genes mapped, as long as they came with a free 'travel-blanket' and 'magnifying glass.' Genes are gonna finally get some directions. One thousand people have agreed to have their genes analysed in a bid to help understand ... more -
One Step Closer to the Bionic Woman
Engineers at the University of Washington have used new techniques to create a flexible, biologically safe contact lens with an electronic circuit and lights. This could offer an opportunity for superhuman vision.
I realize this is just one more step closer to some science fiction-like world where we've create a race of robot/human hybrids that want to destroy us, or something equally sinister but you know what? I totally want these! Engineers at the University of Washington have used new techniques to create a flexible, biologically safe contact lens with an electr... more -
Leukemia causing cells uncovered
Recently published reports reveal that British scientists have discovered the cells that are the catalyst in the most common form of childhood leukemia.
Two four-year-old twins had been the subject of the study, which looks like it could become one of the greatest medical discoveries of the last few years.
The girls' parents said that it was only after the doctors realised that only one of the twins had developed leukemia, that they asked if they would be willing to allow research to be undertaken on the girls. The parents agreed in the hope that it would reduce the number of children needing chemotherapy.
Doctors are hailing this as a huge breakthrough, not only for children who suffer with leukemia, but also as it can now act as a stepping stone in the research into other forms of cancer and could mean that doctors will be able to target specific cell-groups that are believed to be the cause of many other strains of cancer. Recently published reports reveal that British scientists have discovered the cells that are the catalyst in the most common form of c... more -
Healthy Living Can Add Up to 14 Years Of Life
Taking exercise, not drinking too much alcohol, eating enough fruit and vegetables and not smoking can add up to 14 years to your life, a study says.
Research involving 20,000 people over a decade found those who failed on all criteria were four times more likely to have died than those who succeeded.
The findings held true regardless of how overweight or poor they were.
The Public Library of Science Medicine study suggests many could increase their lifespan through simple changes.
The research was carried out by the University of Cambridge and the Medical Research Council in the English county of Norfolk between 1993 and 2006.
Participants were aged between 45 and 79. They were socially mixed although overwhelmingly white, and as far as they were aware at the time, did not have cancer or any heart problems. Taking exercise, not drinking too much alcohol, eating enough fruit and vegetables and not smoking can add up to 14 years to your life... more
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