Medical
Having already cured many diseases and conditions that were once a death sentence, medical researchers continue to strive to help us live longer and healthier lives. Read about the latest advances here.
Latest News
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Hydrogel bandage uses ultrasound to better stick to the skin
August 12, 2022Getting a bandage to stick to your skin can sometimes be difficult, particularly if that skin is wet. This isn't a problem with an experimental new wound dressing however, which uses ultrasound-induced microbubbles to better bond with the skin. -
Optical fiber sensor could keep patients from developing bed sores
August 11, 2022Patients who remain in bed for long periods of time may develop pressure sores, which can in turn become potentially life-threatening chronic skin ulcers. A new sensor could help keep that from happening, using scattered light. -
New gene therapy could prevent genetic hearing loss
August 11, 2022Researchers at the Salk Institute have made a breakthrough that could lead to new treatments for genetic hearing loss. Gene therapy that delivers a particular protein can ensure faulty hair cells grow correctly, allowing for improved hearing. -
New antibiotic molecule kills dozens of the toughest types of superbugs
August 10, 2022Bacteria are fast developing resistance to our best drugs, leaving us poised on the edge of a major health crisis. But a new antibiotic has shown promise against several key “superbugs,” while minimizing damage against good bacteria in the body. -
New treatment for a root cause of asthma proves promising in mice tests
August 09, 2022Asthma is usually managed by treating symptoms, but new research shows a potential way to target a root cause of the disease. A molecule prevented structural changes in the airways of asthmatic mice and eliminated their symptoms in weeks. -
Injectable hydrogel fills surgical cavities to keep brain cancer at bay
August 08, 2022Glioblastoma is one of the most deadly forms of cancer, often returning with a vengeance after it's removed. A newly developed immunity-boosting hydrogel could be injected into the brain after surgery to clear out remaining cancer stem cells. -
Sugar cubes used to create better-performing medical electrodes
August 08, 2022While medical electrodes are vital to the monitoring of electrical activity in the body, they're rigid and costly, plus they don't stay on well if the wearer is moving. A new sugar-cube-derived electrode, however, addresses those shortcomings. -
Hydrogel casing keeps vaccines stable without refrigeration up to 150 °F
August 07, 2022Most vaccines need to be refrigerated, so it's difficult and expensive to get them to remote areas where they’re often needed most. A new method for encapsulating vaccines in hydrogels lets them be transported and stored at much higher temperatures. -
Inflatable insulin pumps reduce scar tissue for long-term drug delivery
August 07, 2022The immune system’s foreign body response is key for keeping us healthy – but it’s not so useful when that foreign body is a medical implant. A new device prevents scar tissue forming around implants by gently inflating and deflating every 12 hours. -
Scientists create first full map of human immune system connectivity
August 05, 2022By using advanced screening methods to tune into the communications taking place between individual cells, scientists have produced a full connectivity map of the human immune system, which may help develop new treatments for disease. -
EarHealth earbuds accurately diagnose a range of ear conditions
August 04, 2022Researchers at the University at Buffalo have used Bluetooth earbuds and a deep learning AI system to diagnose three common ear conditions with a simple, non-invasive audio test that uses a sonar-like audio chirp to map out the ear structure. -
Study of Alzheimer's risk gene reveals potentially reversible mechanism
August 04, 2022MIT scientists have uncovered a mechanism for how a common genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s contributes to the disease. It centers on lipid metabolism, and early investigations suggest it could eventually lead to new treatments for the disease. -
Brain volume study reveals anti-aging potential of taking the stairs
August 04, 2022A research team in Germany has found that even slight changes to regular physical activity, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, can counter the age-related loss of volume in brain regions linked to disease. -
Protein discovery points to entirely new way to treat type 2 diabetes
August 04, 2022A study has homed in on a newly discovered mechanism that could prevent insulin resistance in type 2 diabetics. The research found disrupting the expression of a certain protein could protect beta cells and prevent patients from becoming insulin resistant. -
Cold-activated brown fat soaks up glucose to starve tumors of fuel
August 03, 2022Scientists investigating the way a certain type of fat behaves in response to cold have made a discovery that could have ramifications for cancer treatment, showing how tumor cells can be starved of a vital fuel source they need to thrive.
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