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Category Archives: Medical advancements

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Spider Venom May Help Stroke Victims

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The Australian funnel-web spider could prove a lifesaver for future stroke victims after a peptide in...
The Australian funnel-web spider could prove a lifesaver for future stroke victims after a peptide in its venom was discovered to reduce brain damage in a study involving rats(Credit:pelooyen/Depositphotos)

The Australian funnel-web spider is generally something you’d want to steer well clear of, but the creepy crawly could soon be helping out stroke victims. A peptide found in the spider’s venom has been shown to reduce the brain damage that occurs in the hours following a stroke, with early preclinical studies involving rats having delivered extremely promising results.

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Magnets can Spot Cancer

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Tiny magnetic beads coated in sugar could help doctors to check if a cancer has spread. Once injected into the patient, the beads can be detected using a handheld magnetic wand — similar to a metal detector — and are used to identify the lymph nodes nearest to the cancer.

The lymph nodes form part of the lymphatic system, which drains fluid from tissues all over the body back into the bloodstream. If cancerous cells get into this system, the disease can then spread to other parts of the body.

The key to determining if cancer has spread is identifying the sentinel node — the lymph node that is nearest the tumour.

Tiny magnetic beads coated in sugar could help doctors to check if a cancer has spread
Tiny magnetic beads coated in sugar could help doctors to check if a cancer has spread

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Bone Cells can Suppress Appetite

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A recent discovery by researchers from the Columbia University Medical Centre revealed a previously unknown appetite-regulating...
A recent discovery by researchers from the Columbia University Medical Centre revealed a previously unknown appetite-regulating mechanism that is secreted by bone cells(Credit: Dimdimich/Depositphotos)

There has been plenty of recent research focusing on how your gut bacteria can send messages to your brain controlling appetite and feelings of satiation, but a recent discovery by researchers from the Columbia University Medical Centre has revealed a previously unknown appetite-regulating mechanism that is secreted by bone cells. read more

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Yes Virginia – America Does Have Free Market Medical Care

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by: the Common Constitutionalist

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What is the number one complaint amongst conservatives regarding healthcare? That it is completely void of the free market. Whether it is ObamaCare, or what we currently know of RyanCare, for all intents and purposes, the free market simply doesn’t exist.

We on the right understand that free market forces like competition and innovation are the keystones to any successful industry – any mutually beneficial transaction. Insurance is no different.

Health Insurance, which, to reiterate for the thousandth time, is not healthcare, anymore than auto insurance equals car repair, etc. We would never think of attempting to use our auto insurance for a tire change or a new muffler. Yet we don’t think twice about using our health insurance when we see a doctor for the common cold.

And why? Simple, as we know. It’s called third party payer, or worse, single payer. As long as we perceive that someone, the insurance company, will pay for the visit, we don’t ask what the charges are before service is rendered. We don’t ask after the services are rendered, nor do most even care. It’s the antithesis of the free market. read more

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Nonogel Antivenom

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A new nanogel could make for a better snake antivenom, by sequestering the toxins within the...
A new nanogel could make for a better snake antivenom, by sequestering the toxins within the bloodstream(Credit: SURZet/Depositphotos)

According to the World Health Organization, snakes bite an estimated 5 million people each year, killing more than 100,000 of those victims and permanently injuring hundreds of thousands more. Current antivenoms might not be saving lives as efficiently as they could be, given that they’re difficult and expensive to produce, distribute and administer. Now, researchers at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) have developed a synthetic alternative with a long shelf-life that can neutralize the venom from several species of snakes. read more

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Stem Cells Might Regenerate the Pancreas

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USC researchers claim a diet that mimics the effects of fasting has led to the generation...
USC researchers claim a diet that mimics the effects of fasting has led to the generation of healthy new insulin-producing cells in mice(Credit: imagepointfr/Depositphotos)

Using stem cells to create insulin-producing beta cells that could be transplanted into diabetics is being investigated as a possible cure for type 1 diabetes and treatment for type 2, but new research suggests that a special diet could reprogram cells in the pancreas to do the same thing. read more

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Cracking The Age Puzzle

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Scientists have discovered a new protein that regulates cellular aging

Scientists have discovered a new protein that regulates cellular aging(Credit: AnatomyInsider/Depositphotos)

We’re all familiar with the inescapable effects that the march of time has on our bodies, but the processes that drive aging are still offering up surprises. Scientists have long known that DNA segments called telomeres play a crucial part in our aging process, but new research has discovered a protein that acts as a kind of cellular timekeeper, regulating the length of telomeres to maintain healthy cell division and prevent the development of cancer. read more

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Skin Can Power Medical Implants

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The solar measurement device worn by study participants to examine the real-world feasibility of solar powering...

The solar measurement device worn by study participants to examine the real-world feasibility of solar powering medical implants(Credit: Lukas Bereuter)

It can be a hassle when your phone’s battery runs out of juice and you have to hunt down a power outlet to recharge, but a flat battery is an even bigger hassle in implanted electronic medical devices, such as pacemakers. It often means invasive surgery to replace the battery or the entire unit, but now a new study has found that the use of solar cells implanted under the skin to power medical implants is a feasible approach. read more

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Powdered Artificial Blood Coming Soon

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For medics in the field, getting replacement blood into patients as soon as possible can make the difference between life or death.

But scientists working to develop artificial blood cells could bring life-saving transfusions to more trauma patients within the next 10 years.

The hope is that the artificial blood could be freeze dried and stored in powder form, ready for use by paramedics and combat medics on the battlefield.

Scientists are developing artificial blood which could bring life-saving transfusions to more trauma patients. It won¿t replace human blood, but it could buy patients vital time they need to get to hospital and receive donor bloodScientists are developing artificial blood which could bring life-saving transfusions to more trauma patients. It won’t replace human blood, but it could buy patients vital time they need to get to hospital and receive donor blood

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