Treatment

When someone has suffered a major nerve injury, there are two common treatments: a nerve graft, or a conduit to guide the regrowth of the nerve. While both approaches have their drawbacks, a new variation on the latter may succeed where they fail.

Phages, viruses that thrive by infecting bacteria, have long been mooted as a potential replacement for antibiotics, but they pose risks due to their own rapid evolution. New research suggests it may be possible to mitigate their risks.

According to British scientists, a lack of stem cells in the lining of the womb is one of the main causes of recurrent miscarriages. There may be hope, however, as they also believe an existing diabetes medication could help remedy the situation.

When it comes to repairing bone injuries or defects, some scientists have been experimenting with what's known as bone morphogenetic protein. It does have some limitations, but those could soon be overcome through the use of a new biomaterial.

Although it's possible to remove warts by freezing them, they often grow back, requiring multiple treatments. New research, however, suggests that ultra-short electrical pulses could be much more effective at eliminating warts and other skin lesions.

When a bone-break occurs, the body floods the injury site with a healing biochemical known as adenosine. A new bandage is designed to absorb that substance, keeping it around so it can do more work.

It's important to treat frostbite quickly, as it can lead to gangrene and ultimately amputation. A new spray gel could help, allowing for highly-effective treatment in places where it might not otherwise be possible.

When first responders are tending to accident victims with lacerations, one of their primary goals is to control the bleeding. It may someday be possible for them to do so more effectively than ever, by injecting patients with a magnetic fluid.

Gum disease is a very common condition, and it's usually caused by bacteria. Although orally-administered antibiotics are typically used to treat severe cases, a new treatment could be much more effective – with fewer side effects.

Sometimes to fight one villain, you have to team up with another. It works in movies – and now, medical science. Researchers have turned to anthrax as an unlikely ally in the fight against bladder cancer, with promising results in animal tests.

Although conditions such as epilepsy can be treated via nerve-stimulating electrodes, those electrodes are stiff, costly and require surgery to implant. Scientists have now created an alternative, however, in the form of soft, injectable electrodes.

​Acyclovir is one of the most commonly-used herpes-treatment drugs. It can also damage the kidneys, however, so the less of it that's used, the better. According to a new study, combining the drug with activated carbon helps make it more effective, so a smaller amount of it is required.