A team of scientists created a soft artificial heart capable of beating almost like a real cord.

A team of researchers managed to accomplish an impressive feat as they created a soft artificial heart prototype capable of beating almost like a real one. However, they still have their work cut out for them, as the prototype currently has a limited beating span.

A team of ETH Zurich Functional Materials Laboratory in Switzerland researchers are behind this new artificial heart. They managed to create it by using 3D printing technology and silicone.

The Soft Artificial Heart Is Almost an Exact Replica of a Real Cord

This heart prototype was designed to replicate a real human heart, as opposed to other existing blood pumps or cord replicas. The soft artificial heart employed the use of a 3D printer and is made out of silicone. It features almost the same compartmentation, only instead of two, it has three ventricles.

This additional chamber unlocks its ability to beat. The prototype weighs some 390 grams and has a volume of 679 cubic centimeters, which makes it a bit heavier than a real cord.

Its left and right ventricle are separated not by a septum but by the extra heart chamber. This acts as the cord muscle, as it helps move pressurized air that inflates and deflates the prototype.

The soft silicone heart can then beat as a regular real one, but only for some 3,000 times. About 30 to 45 minutes after it started beating, its silicone base starts breaking apart.

The research team is now working hard on improving its prototype. They will be looking to strengthen its material. Further enhancements will also have to help it function over longer periods of time. Still, as the research team states, this was solely a test, and their first target was creating an as real as possible heart. This in itself could open up a new path in organ replacement.

“This was simply a feasibility test. Our goal was not to present a heart ready for implantation, but to think about a new direction for the development of artificial hearts.”

Further tests, studies, and research will still be needed. But this is nonetheless an important step towards the creation of an as efficient as possible artificial heart.

Current study results are available in the journal Artificial Organs.

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Endari is the first sickle cell treatment to be approved by the FDA in 20 years.

In July 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new sickle cell treatment, the first in almost 20 years. Titled Endari, this can be used by patients aged five or older for reducing the severe complication associated with this disease.

“Until now, only one other drug was approved for patients living with this serious, debilitating condition,” stated Richard Pazdur, the FDA Oncology Center of Excellence director. He is also the acting director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research’s Office of Hematology and Oncology Products at the FDA.

New Sickle Cell Treatment, but Not a Cure

Sickle cell diseases is an inheritable blood disorder. This gained its name from the fact that the carrier’s red blood cells are shaped like a sickle or crescent shape. The shape also brings about a series of problems, as it restricts the flow of the blood in the vessels. It also limits the oxygen delivery to the tissues. This can lead to severe pain and even organ damage.

The National Institutes of Health approximates that there are around 100,000 people in the United States living with this disorder. Their average life expectancy is of in between 40 to 60 years.

Before approving the new sickle cell treatment, the efficiency of Endari was tested in a randomized trial. The patients involved aged from 5 to 58 years old. They had also had at least two if not more crises within a year before their enrollment in the study.

Participants were split into groups, at random. One of them receiving Endari and the other placebos. Both took the treatment over a period of 48 weeks. Patients that received Endari had to make fewer hospital visits. They also experienced fewer hospitalizations and generally spent fewer days in the hospital.

They also presented fewer cases of acute chest syndrome. This is a potentially life-threatening complication, which can develop with the sickle cell disease. All the results are based on a comparison with the same statuses presented by the control group patients.

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Scientists detected a new, possible link between Alzheimer and poor sleep.

New research co-authored by Dr. Barbara Bendlin from the University of Wisconsin-Madison showed that poor sleep patterns increase the chances of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.

The researchers gathered samples of spinal fluid from 101 patients with a family history of Alzheimer’s or who had certain genes linked to the condition. Those who reported poor quality of sleep seem to present more biological markers characteristic of Alzheimer than those with regular sleep patterns.

Poor Sleep Patterns Might Lead to the Development of Brain Plaque and Alzheimer?

During the study, researchers looked for tangles. These can be formed into the nerve cells due to a damaged protein called “tau”. Tau tangles become toxic for the nervous system as they disrupt the structure of the cells. Apart from the beta-amyloid plaque which was linked to the early stages of Alzheimer’s, the tau tangles might be a step beyond.

Bendlin stated that, according to prior evidence, a disrupted sleep pattern might lead to the development of the amyloid plaque. However, the study tested just how much lack of or poor sleep can affect the nerve cells. Bendlin further stated that not all of the patients with poor sleeping patterns had abnormal markers in their spinal fluid. But the study does add to the prior evidence concerning the onset of the disease.

If the effects of poor sleep can be directly linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease, the opportunity for intervention might be available sooner. Thus, the number of cases might also be reduced. Bendlin added:

“If it turns out to be the case that an intervention which improves sleep also results in less amyloid being deposited in the brain, that would provide strong support for implementing interventions before people start to show cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease.”

The lead suggests that more research should be conducted. This could help pinpoint the link between sleeping patterns and the biomarkers. Currently, it seems that the two might well influence each other.

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The AHA has found that coconut oil is not good for your cholesterol level

The American Heart Association has said that coconut oil is not good, because it raises the “bad” cholesterol just like other alimentary items do (butter, beef). The AHA has concluded that coconut oil is 82% richer in saturated fat compared with 63% in the case of butter and 50% for beef fat.

Coconut Oil is not Good for Cholesterol Levels

This is on the account that butter and beef drippings have a smaller level of saturated fat, which, in turn, increases the levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This is the type of cholesterol that builds up in the blood vessels which, then, can lead to clot formation and heart attacks.

As such, coconut oil is not good for cooking, the AHA warns, recommending consumers to switch this type of oil with the polyunsaturated fats, such as corn, soybean, and peanut oils.

In a quote, Dr. Frank Sacks, a researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, said that:

“Replacing saturated with polyunsaturated has a two-fold effect because a fat that causes heart disease is lowered and a fat that prevents heart disease is increased”.

Moreover, in 7 out of 7 studies that the AHA has reviewed for its advisory published in the journal Circulation, they have found that coconut oil raises the LDL levels as much as other ingredients (butter, beef, palm oil). They suggest that replacing the saturated fats found coconut oil with vegetable oil reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 30%.

This is as means to fight against cardiovascular disease, which is one of the leading death causes worldwide. So much so, it leads to 17.3m fatalities per year. Because coconut oil is not good, the AHA recommends either a Mediterranean-style diet or the ‘Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet’.

Dr. Lennert Veerman, of the Cancer Council NSW in Sydney, states that

“(…) a small reduction of risk every day adds up, so replacing coconut oil with olive oil may be an easy way to reduce risk a bit”.

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The lone star tick bite triggers red meat allergy, immunologists say. They have yet to understand the underlying mechanisms for this situation

Immunologists have found an increased rate of meat allergy induced by the lone star tick. There isn’t much data on how the allergy is triggered or why the immune system triggers it, but there are worrisome reasons that urge healthcare agents to caution people that are bitten by this tick to carefully monitor any sort of joint or muscle pain or other signs of allergy.

This Tick Bite Triggers Red Meat Allergy

In the past 20 years, there have been increasing reports of people that, after a lifetime worth of meat eating, developed sudden meat allergy. And as Summers has set its sails, MDs and other health agents worry that the number of such cases will increase.

The reason for which this particular tick bite triggers red meat allergy is that red meat contains some protein-linked saccharides, among them the galactose-α-1,3-galactose. The alpha-gal is the main ingredient in triggering the meat allergy. This tick bite triggers red meat allergy which poses a life threating danger, as individuals can develop specific symptoms which, if not treated in due under specialized care, can kill them.

All that the researchers know is that the ticks feed on deer. When they bite humans, their victims are exposed to the alpha-gal allergen, which is found in the deer blood still present in the tick.  This is what Andrew Nickels, M.D., assistant professor of Medicine and Pediatrics and an allergist at ASAP, said.

 “A susceptible human’s immune system then develops molecules called IgE that are specific to the alpha-gal allergen. Once this occurs, they are prone to have allergic reactions”, he further said.

The alpha-gal syndrome is a recent discovery, having less than 10 years of research behind it. The tick bite allergy has been more tested in the recent period to help scientist understand how the tick bite triggers red meat allergy and how it changes the immune system’s reaction to the said protein. For the time being, however, there isn’t a cure that can help patients regain their normal red meat diet. But the symptoms can be controlled through diet, doctors hoping that it passes in time.

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A new study analyzed the benefits of using acupuncture in treating ER patients.

A new research targeted the potentially beneficial effects of acupuncture performed on some patients that come to the emergency room. It looks to determine if this could be an effective treatment method. One that would also not require pain medication.

“Acupuncture” is used as a general term for describing a series of procedures which target the stimulation of specific points on the body. Although it is a key component of the traditional Chinese medicine, many debates still center around this practice and its utility.

Acupuncture to Help in the ER?

The new study was carried out by Australian scientists and is the largest controlled and randomized trial targeting acupuncture’s use in the emergency room. It involved almost 530 patients, which came in with pains at one of four Australian emergency departments. They reported suffering from ankle sprains, migraines, or acute low back pains. Also, the patients were asked to grade their pain on a 1 to 10 scale.

Those who reported feeling at least a 4 received one of three randomly assigned treatment methods. They either received painkiller, the pain medication and acupuncture, or this latter only.

Reports show that, about an hour following the treatment, no more than 40 percent of the patient felt a pain reduction. Over 80 percent still reported at least a 4-level pain. However, in about a couple of days’ time, most of the patient were reportedly satisfied.

A follow-up showed that almost 83 percent of the acupuncture-only treated patients stated they would “definitely” or “probably” chose such a method again. This was higher than the 81 percent that would want a mixed treatment. Or the 78 percent that would go for painkillers alone.

“Emergency nurses and doctors need a variety of pain-relieving options when treating patients, given the concerns around opioids such as morphine,” stated the study lead, Marc Cohen.

Cohen added that such a method could be a useful alternative for treating patients coming into the ER. It would be particularly useful when the patients cannot take painkillers because of other conditions. Still, Cohen also points out the need for more studies on the matter. Especially ones targeting the patients that still felt pain, no matter the treatment.

Research results are available in the Medical Journal of Australia.

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Researchers are working on a suntan compound that can help create a tan and possibly prevent skin cancer.

Scientists from the Harvard University and the Massachusetts General Hospital is developing a suntan compound that can create a tan without having to sit in the sun. Besides its potential cosmetic value, the scientists are looking to develop this as a new possible protection method against skin cancer.

The new suntan compound could come to be used in conjunction with sunscreen and revolves around melanin. This is the pigment in both the human skin, hair, and eyes that give them their color.

Suntan Compound Still in the Testing Phase

These latest results are based on a study conducted back in 2006, but almost the same team. At the time, the scientists discovered that forskolin, a plant extract, could lead to cancer-protecting tan in red-haired mice. Still, this compound was proven ineffective in humans, so the group looked in a different direction.

Now, the researchers are working on a new such solution, one created from a different class of compounds. Lab tests on both mice and human skin samples have also shown its potential efficiency. This class of compounds was noted to be capable of boosting the skin pigmentation process. It also proved its efficiency in ‘squeezing’ through the outer layers of the epidermis.

The suntan compound works by twitching Salt Inducible Kinase (SIK) enzymes in the skin. These are the melanin production “master off switch”. Once applied, the compound can generate a large production of melanin, capable of ‘tanning’ even the fairest skin tones.

Initially, the solution was tested on red-haired mice and then on human skin samples. Based on these tests, the team determined that the tanning response could be modified by adjusting the frequency of use and dosage. Nonetheless, its effects could last for days without the need of reapplying.

Once the researchers stopped reapplying the solution, which simply has to be rubbed on, the skin returned to its natural tone within a couple of weeks.

The scientists are hoping that used together with sunscreen, this new suntan compound can help reduce the risks of skin cancer. Further research is needed, as well as clinical trials before the compound can transform into a commercially available product.

The results of the study are available in a paper in the journal Cell Reports.

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A team of researchers took a look at the effects of drinking cow milk and its possible benefits.

As more and more alternatives to dairy milk appear on grocery store shelves, it can become increasingly harder to chose the best product. So a team of researchers went and took a closer look at the effects of drinking one type or another of milk.

Kids That Drank Cow Milk Noted to be Slightly Taller

A new study indicates that giving babies an egg every day may improve their chances of growing healthy and tall.

According to a new research, giving weaned babies an egg every day could help them grow bigger, taller, and healthier, especially if they are undernourished.

The new study was carried out in Ecuador, a country confronting a widespread growth stunting problem. Research was conducted in the Ecuadorian Andes and involved around 160 babies aged 6 to 9 months old.

These had all been recently weaned. As part of the study, 80 of them were given an egg every day over six months. The remaining 80 babies continued being fed according to their usual diet. Study results are available in a paper in the journal Pediatrics.

An Egg Every Day Can Help Increase Growth Chances

The study team noted that the babies fed with an egg on a daily basis were twice more likely to growth bigger, taller, and healthier when compared to the other group. Also, researchers point out that this is the first controlled and randomized study to analyze the effects of eggs on stunting.

“It’s no single nutrient in the eggs but rather the whole package of amino acids and fatty acids, and also vitamins like and choline and B12,” states Lora Iannotti.

She is the study’s author and part of Washington University in St. Louis. Stunting is one of the main issues that the World Health Assembly is planning on overcoming by 2025. Babies with a stunted growth tend to develop into smaller children and then rather reduced height adults.

Stunting was also associated with a reduced lifespan and even cognitive development problems. As such, the study team considers that eggs could be both a promising and somewhat cheap way of dealing with stunting. Especially so in countries in which this is a big problem.

Also, the team detected an unexpected other effect of eating an egg a day. Babies with such a dietary plan also consumed less sugar and sugar-sweetened foods. Iannotti states that the study wasn’t looking or expecting such an effect.

They also have yet to establish a cause and effect relation for this finding. Still, they believe that the sensation of being filled decrease the kids’ appetite for other foods.

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A new study found that the sodium content of foods purchased across the US is falling.

According to a new study, sodium content levels have been falling across the United States as people are buying less sodium and also fewer packaged foods with high salt levels.

The research team claims that these are the results of combined actions from both the public and food manufacturers. Study results are available online in the JAMA Internal Medicine.

The Sodium Content is Falling, Is It Enough?

These new results are based on a long-term study carried out and involving the Nielsen Homescan Consumer Panel. It targeted the packaged food and beverage purchases from 2000 to 2014 of over 172,000 households. Research also took into account the nutritional label data of almost 1,500,000 products.

According to the research team, sodium content levels have been steadily falling across the targeted period. Overall, the median amount of sodium of the purchased goods accounts to 396 mg/per day/per person nowadays. Also, the salt content of such foods decreased by around 12 percent in the same period.

This new research notes that goods purchased nowadays also contain less salt than foods acquired at the beginning of the study. Food manufacturers have been reducing the sodium content of various products, from sauces and dips to condiments and even salty foods themselves.

Jennifer Poti and her colleagues, who conducted the study, stated that “almost all US households continue to have total packaged food purchases with excessive sodium density,” even if the overall amount is falling.

The research team states that the salt content of purchased foods is significantly lower than even in recent years. However, they also claim that these levels are still ‘higher than the recommended density’.

“Our findings support the need for more concerted nationwide efforts to accelerate the pace of sodium reduction,” states the team.

As it is, the researchers stress the need for further studies on the matter. They also point out the fact that lower sodium contents do not necessarily mean lower salt consumption levels.

This new research targeted the amount of salt in the purchased foods, so they point out the need to determine how this translates into the intake levels.

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