Bioengineers create functional 3-D brain-like tissue — Tissue model could change the way scientists study the brain in vitro-NIH study – US Bioengineers have created three-dimensional brain-like tissue that functions like and has structural features similar to tissue in the rat brain and that can be kept alive in the lab for more than two months.
As West Africa Ebola outbreak worsens, CDC issues Level 3 Travel Warning — CDC surge scaling up response in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning to avoid nonessential travel to the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. This Level 3 travel warning is a reflection of the worsening Ebola outbreak in this region.
Researchers develop first minimally invasive gene therapy procedure to treat heart rhythm disorders by transforming ordinary heart muscle cells into specialized rhythm-keeping cells, potentially eliminating future need for electronic pacemakers – Cardiologists at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute have developed a minimally invasive gene transplant procedure that changes unspecialized heart cells into “biological pacemaker” cells that keep the heart steadily beating.
Miriam Hospital study examines smoking prevalence — First-of-its-kind study to examine the high-risk group and advise they be targeted for cessation – Researchers from The Miriam Hospital have found that people with mobility impairments under age 65 have significantly higher rates of smoking than those without mobility impairments.
NYU researchers find 18 percent of high school seniors smoke hookah — Higher socioeconomic status associated with higher rates of hookah use – American adolescents are turning to ethnically-linked alternative tobacco products, such as hookahs, cigars, and various smokeless tobacco products.
Biomarker predicts effectiveness of brain cancer treatment – Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a new biomarker that predicts whether glioblastoma – the most common form of primary brain cancer – will respond to chemotherapy.
ReWalk: First and Only Exoskeleton Cleared by FDA — FDA allows marketing of first wearable, motorized device that helps people with certain spinal cord injuries to walk – Exoskeleton leader ReWalk Robotics announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the company’s ReWalk Personal System for use at home and in the community.
New test predicts the risk of non-hereditary breast cancer — A simple blood test is currently in development that could help predict the likelihood of a woman developing breast cancer – A simple blood test is currently in development that could help predict the likelihood of a woman developing breast cancer, even in the absence of a high-risk BRCA1 gene mutation. This new research is published in the Genome Medicine.
Topical Acne Products Can Cause Dangerous Side Effects – Certain acne treatments can, in rare instances, cause severe allergic reactions that are potentially life-threatening.
Autism – Study finds association between maternal exposure to agricultural pesticides – Pregnant women who lived in close proximity to fields and farms where chemical pesticides were applied experienced a two-thirds increased risk of having a child with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delay.
US CDC says more lab workers may have been exposed to anthrax – CDC announced that approximately 75 Atlanta-based staff are being monitored or provided antibiotics because they may have been unintentionally exposed to live Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) after established safety practices were not followed.
Breathalyzer Test May Detect Deadliest Cancer — Researchers from TAU and partner institutions develop groundbreaking device that spots lung cancer – to stop it in its tracks – A new device developed by a team of Israeli, American, and British cancer researchers may turn the tide by both accurately detecting lung cancer and identifying its stage of progression.
