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Implantable Pressure Sensor Powered By Musical Frequencies Real-time Neuronal Activity Highlighted by New Fluorescent Dye Manganese May Provide the First Known Treatment for Shiga Toxin
 
Implantable Pressure Sensor Powered By Musical Frequencies

Implantable Pressure Sensor Powered By Musical Frequencies

Scientists at Purdue University have designed a novel in-vivo pressure sensor which generates power by absorbing low frequency sounds, such as the bass frequencies of most music. The sensor consists of an ultra-sensitive cantilever which vibrates at certain frequencies, generating an electric charge. This charge is stored within a capacitor until the vibrations stop, at [...]

Real-time Neuronal Activity Highlighted by New Fluorescent Dye

Real-time Neuronal Activity Highlighted by New Fluorescent Dye

In order to monitor and decipher the interactions of brain cells, or neurons, scientists have resorted to a variety of methods including gold nanoparticle arrays, complex neurochips and simple cation-sensitive dyes. Researchers at the Tsien lab at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, however, have developed a new fast-acting fluorescent dye that improves upon [...]

Manganese May Provide the First Known Treatment for Shiga Toxin

Manganese May Provide the First Known Treatment for Shiga Toxin

Shiga toxin is a dangerous by-product of certain infectious bacteria, such as strains of Shigella and E. coli, which causes symptoms ranging from intestinal pain to kidney failure and even death. Over 150 million people are afflicted with Shiga toxicosis every year, mostly in developing countries where waterborne diseases are prevalent. It is estimated that [...]

Drug Therapy Combination Increases Weight Loss

Drug Therapy Combination Increases Weight Loss

03 November 2011

Obesity is a highly prevalent condition in the United States that is correlated with shortened life expectancy, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. A recent 2011 study on reducing obesity has given new hope to people struggling with the condition and its related disorders. By combining Phentermine and Topiramate, two pre-approved obesity drugs, researchers [...]

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Micropatterned Surfaces Induce Vascularization in Engineered Tissue Constructs

Micropatterned Surfaces Induce Vascularization in Engineered Tissue Constructs

27 October 2011

An interesting attribute of biomedical engineering is its constant evolution in conjuncture with theory. A previous article on this site describes the tissue engineering technique of cell sheet layering (pioneered in 2003). This technique has developed much since then, and several advances has been made by the same laboratory responsible for the original research. As stated previously, [...]

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Viruses serve as Building Blocks for Nanomaterial Manufacture

Viruses serve as Building Blocks for Nanomaterial Manufacture

26 October 2011

UC Berkeley bioengineer, Seung-Wuk Lee, is working to harness genetically engineered viruses for the creation of microstructures and biomimetic materials (materials that imitate natural structures in the body such as that found in skin, teeth, and corneal tissue). Last week, the National Science Foundation (NSF) held a webcast with Lee to discuss the new viral synthesis technology. As his team [...]

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Electrocortical Control Brings New Hope to Patients with Spinal Injuries

Electrocortical Control Brings New Hope to Patients with Spinal Injuries

21 October 2011

Earlier this month, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (UPMC) succeeded in implementing a prosthetic arm controlled by a patient’s thoughts. This differs from current generation prosthetics that require electrical signals from muscle or skin sensors, which may or may not function in all patients, especially those with spinal injuries. Tim Hemmes, after seven [...]

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Novel Cell Layering Method for Creating Three Dimensional Tissue Grafts

Novel Cell Layering Method for Creating Three Dimensional Tissue Grafts

20 October 2011

One of the greatest challenges facing tissue engineers is the production of a 3D tissue culture for physiological testing.  Two dimensional cell cultures such as those traditionally grown on culture dishes simply do not demonstrate similar physiological function compared to the 3D tissue they are meant to represent, which limits the ability of researchers to [...]

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Hearing Implant Success Story: 29 year-old Woman Hears Herself for the First Time

Hearing Implant Success Story: 29 year-old Woman Hears Herself for the First Time

01 October 2011

29-year old Sloan Churman was born deaf and struggled all her life to make sense of the auditory world around her. She has been on hearing aid since age 2. “But hearing aids only help so much,” she says, “I have gotten by this long in life by reading lips.” All that changed, however, when [...]

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