Now, ”printer” that creates made-to-measure human organs

June 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, June 4 (ANI): Patients needing transplants would soon ask doctors to ”print” new organs for them, it has been claimed.

The California-based regenerative medicine company Organovo has already unveiled a prototype machine capable of growing new arteries.

Company bosses believe the technology could be used to create new organs.

The machine is based on 3D laser printing technology used to make new machine parts for industry.

But instead of combining layers of plastic and metal, the “bioprinter” puts together living tissue.

Two laser-based printing heads are used to place living cells onto thin sheets of gel with microscopic precision.

Thereafter, multiple layers are laid on top of each other in a specially designed “scaffold” and the cells begin to fuse together.

“Ultimately the idea would be for surgeons to have tissue on demand for various uses,” the Telegraph quoted Organovo”s chief executive Keith Murphy, as saying.

Murphy added: “The best way to do that is get a number of bio-printers into the hands of researchers and give them the ability to make three dimensional tissues on demand.” (ANI)

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U.S. envoy Holbrooke to have heart treatment

April 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, will have a heart procedure later this week due to possible clogged arteries, his office said on Tuesday.

The veteran diplomat will travel to New York on Thursday for an angiogram and further treatment for his condition.

He had been set to travel to the region in the coming days along with other senior U.S. officials but will no longer accompany them on that trip.

(Reporting by Sue Pleming; editing by Mohammad Zargham)

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Technology to control turbulence in water pipes could also keep arteries clear

March 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Mar 20 (ANI): In what could be a boon for cardiologists, a new technology to keep turbulence down in pipes could actually keep arteries clear and save lives, according to a study.

In an effort to help lower the cost of pumping fluids through pipelines, U.S. and German scientists discovered that by injecting puffs of water into a water pipe (or by adding more turbulence), it was possible to completely eliminate turbulence in the pipe.

The research could have huge implications in a wide variety of fields. The most immediate beneficiaries could be water utilities and oil companies, but aerospace and ship engineers could use the method to make vessels more fuel efficient.

Cardiologists could even tap the findings to keep arteries clear.

“There is a way to completely destroy turbulence for a minimal cost in energy. I hope it has implications in other fields where people want to reduce turbulence,” Discovery News quoted Tobias Schneider, a scientist from Harvard University and co-author of a study, as saying.

To test the theory, the scientists pumped in a stream of water into a nearly 20-foot, clear plexiglass pipe.

As turbulence travelled down the pipe, it encountered another area of turbulence, provided by a jet of water piped in downstream.

The second area of turbulence acted like a wall.

When the original area of turbulence struck the second, the two cancelled each other out. Instead of a series of localized, chaotic currents, the water became smooth.

Smooth flow is beneficial because it requires less energy to pump than chaotic, turbulent water — a lot less energy.

And it was the first time, researchers showed a net savings in energy by cancelling turbulence. The energy savings were significant in even narrow pipes.

Water utilities could be the first beneficiary of the technology.

Eliminating turbulence in oil and liquefied natural gas will help these companies save money, which should lower the price of oil and gas for consumers.

Schneider said that the research would also interest cardiologists, as smoothing out the flow of blood around blocked arteries could reduce the number or severity of heart attacks.

The study has been published in the current issue of the journal Science. (ANI)

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Why broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower are good for heart

September 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Sept 5 (ANI): Here’s why broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are good for the heart – a chemical found in these vegetables can boost a natural defence mechanism to protect arteries from disease.

The build up of fatty plaques in arteries called atherosclerosis leads to heart disease.

The Imperial College London team has shown that a protein that usually protects against plaque build up called Nrf2 is inactive in areas of arteries that are prone to disease.

Treatment with a chemical found in green “brassica” vegetables such as broccoli can activate Nrf2 in these disease-prone regions.

“We found that the innermost layer of cells at branches and bends of arteries lack the active form of Nrf2, which may explain why they are prone to inflammation and disease,” BBC News quoted lead researcher Dr Paul Evans as saying.

“Treatment with the natural compound sulforaphane reduced inflammation at the high-risk areas by ‘switching on’ Nrf2.

“Sulforaphane is found naturally in broccoli, so our next steps include testing whether simply eating broccoli, or other vegetables in their ‘family’, has the same protective effect.

“We also need to see if the compound can reduce the progression of disease in affected arteries,” he added.

Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, which funded the research said that the new findings provide a possible mechanism by which eating vegetables protects against heart disease.

During the study, the researchers genetically engineered mice to lack the Nrf2 protein.

The research found that in straight sections of arteries Nrf2 was present in the endothelial ‘lining’ cells. Through its action on other proteins, it prevented the cells from becoming inflamed, an early stage in the development of atherosclerosis.

The study appears in Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. (ANI)

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Why our red blood turns blue after entering veins

August 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Aug 29 (ANI): Ever imagined why our blood, which is actually red in colour turns blue in veins? Well, it’s because of the oxygen.

According to experts, heart pumps blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen.

The oxygen-rich blood is then pumped out to the body through arteries, which is red in colour, reports Live Science.

Then from arteries, the blood flows through tiny blood vessels called capillaries, where it gives up its oxygen to the body’s tissues.

When the blood lacks oxygen it turns blue and returns to heart through veins. (ANI)

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Slow blood flow hinders statins’ protective effect

July 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, July 13 (ANI): Imperial College London scientists say that slow blood flow in arteries may hinder the protective effect of statins.

The researchers ay that slow blood flow tends to reduce statins’ ability to trigger production of beneficial antioxidant molecules.

Moreover, the body’s own protective mechanisms also tend to fail in the same areas – leaving them vulnerable to damage.

These cholesterol-lowering drugs work by stimulating the production of beneficial antioxidants in the cells of the arteries, by boosting levels of a key enzyme, called heme oxygenase (HO-1).

The researchers examined that the antioxidant potency of statins in different parts of the circulation by measuring the amount of HO-1 in the endothelial cells that line the arteries.

It was found the increase in HO-1 induced by the statin was significantly higher in cells exposed to fast and regular blood flow than in cells where blood flow was sluggish or disrupted.

This shows that statins fail to work well in areas where the body’s natural defences are weak.

“Arteries don’t clog up in a uniform way,” the BBC quoted researcher Dr. Justin Mason as saying.

“Bends and branches of blood vessels – where blood flow is disrupted and can be sluggish – are much more prone to fatty plaques building-up and blocking the artery.

“What we have shown is that those regions of the arteries most likely to become diseased are the same regions that may not be benefiting maximally from statin treatment – a double whammy,” he added.

The study has been published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. (ANI)

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Bal Thackeray’s condition stable after angioplasty

July 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai, July 8 (ANI): Doctors attending on Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray have said his condition is stable.

Samuel Mathew, a doctor who performed Thackeray’s angioplasty last evening, said: “He was admitted with unstable Angioma. Angiogram showed critical block in one of the arteries.

Their bypass was already performed but that bypass was not perfectly working well. So decision was made to go ahead and open the blockade. The artery was fully opened. We are satisfied with his progress and he is doing very well.”

Thackeray’s son, Uddhav Thackeray, rushed to the hospital after arriving from the United States.

Party leaders were also present and prayed for his good health.

“I am confident that Bal Sahib would be fine and there is no need of worry,” said Manohar Joshi, a senior leader of the party.

Thackeray was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital on Monday for a routine health check-up.

Thackeray was hospitalized last month after he complained of breathlessness. (ANI)

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Soccer Wag Dani nearly lost her leg in club brawl

May 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, May 27 (ANI): Soccer WAG Danielle Lloyd nearly lost her leg after crashing through a glass table in a drunken brawl, it was revealed yesterday.

Surgeons told the terrified WAG they had feared they might have to amputate the limb because of the amount of blood loss.

According to The Sun, Danielle, 25, underwent emergency surgery on her left calf and needed 20 stitches in a gaping wound in her back after the nightclub rumpus.

A close friend told The Sun: “Danielle was told she was lucky not to have lost her leg.”

Elliot Sorene, a consultant in trauma and orthopedic surgery, said: “Whilst the whole experience for Miss Lloyd was exceptionally unfortunate, she is very lucky that the major blood vessels and arteries were not involved, otherwise she would have been left permanently paralysed.”

Danielle is dating Spurs football star Jamie O’Hara. (ANI)

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Cholesterol-lowering drugs may help cut stroke recurrence risk

May 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, May 26 (ANI): Taking cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins after a stroke could help reduce the risk of having another stroke later, says a new study.

The research has been published in the May 26, 2009, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Those who take statins after a stroke may also be less likely to die within the next 10 years than those who do not take statins, the study said.

“Considering the large burden that stroke carries around the world, these potential benefits of statins are significant,” said study author Sotirios Giannopoulos, MD, DSc, of the University of Ioannina School of Medicine in Greece.

“Also, second strokes tend to result in more disability and longer time spent in hospitals than first strokes, so anything that can prevent these recurrent strokes is beneficial,” the researcher added.

The study consisted of 794 people who had strokes and had health information available for 10 years after the stroke.

Researchers looked back at the records to see what factors affected the risk for having a second stroke or dying within 10 years after the stroke.

During that time, 112 people had a second stroke and 224 people died. Those who took statins were 35 percent less likely to have a second stroke and 57 percent less likely to die within 10 years than those who did not take statins.

About eight percent of those on statins had a second stroke, compared to 16 percent of those not taking statins. Researchers analyzed other risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, and heart problems, but found that statin use was the only factor tied to a reduced risk of recurrent stroke and death.

“It’s possible that effects from the drugs that are separate from their cholesterol-lowering effects are responsible for this result,” Giannopoulos said.

“Statins have anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects and also prevent blood clotting and stabilize plaque in the arteries, so one of these mechanisms may help to prevent recurrent stroke,” the expert added. (ANI)

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Eating fish, nuts and olive oil may be good for your eyes

May 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, May 12 (ANI): Consumption of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such fish, nuts and olive oil may protect against development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a study has found.

Jennifer S.L. Tan, M.B.B.S., B.E., of Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Australia, and colleagues examined 2,454 participants in the Blue Mountains Eye Study, which began in 1992 to 1994.

At that time, participants completed a food frequency questionnaire that was analysed to determine their intake of various fatty acids. Digital photographs of the retina were used to assess the development of AMD five and 10 years later.

After adjusting for age, sex and smoking, eating one serving of fish per week was associated with a 31 percent lower risk of developing early AMD.

The researchers found that association was stronger among individuals with a lower intake of linoleic acid, an unsaturated omega-6 fatty acid found primarily in vegetable oils.

They also found that eating one to two servings of nuts per week was associated with a 35 percent lower risk of early AMD.

According to researchers, these fatty acids may protect the eyes by preventing the build-up of plaque in the arteries or reducing inflammation, blood vessel formation and oxygen-related cell damage in the retina.

“In conclusion, our findings support the hypothesis that increased intake of omega-three polyunsaturated fatty acids and regular consumption of fish and/or nuts in the diet may protect against the development of early AMD,” the authors said.

The study appears in the May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. (ANI)

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Now, ‘AURAious’ Becks strips to the bone in new Motorola ad

April 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Apr 17 (ANI): After posing in almost nothing for Armani and Gilette, footie idol David Beckham has appeared in a supersexy shirtless look for the new Motorola ad campaign.

“The AURA of David Beckham”, Motorola’s latest advertising campaign, shows the AC Milan player as never before.

The photograph shows Becks framed by a red light, which gives him an otherwordly aura and exposes his ribs, muscles and arteries, reports the Telegraph.

The new Aura phone launched by Motorola has a stainless steep casing along with a 63-carat sapphire crystal lens.

It also includes the same signature red dot held by Beckham in the advert. (ANI)

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Men should shave on an empty stomach

April 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Munich – Men can avoid nicks and cuts from their razors by shaving before breakfast, according to a German-language skin care website run by several organizations active in promoting cosmetics and health care.

As the stomach starts to digest, the heart rate and blood flow increases. As there is more blood flowing through the arteries beneath the skin on the face and neck, there is a greater danger of being cut after eating.

In addition, facial hair should be well moistened before shaving. The hair swells almost like a sponge swells when it is moistened and it is easier to cut, the website said.

However, it’s also best to shave before showering because the hair should not be too wet. (dpa)

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Facebook could jeopardize your health

February 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Feb 19 (ANI): Social-networking sites like Facebook could be could be jeopardising your health by reducing levels of face-to-face contact, warns an expert.

According to Dr Aric Sigman, the sites, which are meant for enriching social lives, end up keeping people apart.

Lack of “real” social networking, involving face-to-face interaction, may have wide-ranging biological effects, he argued.

Sigman, who is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, said evidence suggests that spending hours on such sites could alter the way genes work, upset immune responses, hormone levels and the function of arteries, and influence mental performance, reports Sky News.

Sigman issues the stark warning in the latest issue of Biologist, the journal of the Institute of Biology.

The doctor said: “A quarter of British children have a laptop or computer in their room by the age of five and they have their own social networking sites… It’s causing huge changes.”

He said: “When we are ‘really’ with people different things happen. It’s probably an evolutionary mechanism that recognises the benefits of us being together geographically.” (ANI)

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