Health & Medicine
Science and Oslerian friendship support therapeutic caring of the neglected in India and China
Professor Terence Ryan, dermatologist and Emeritus Fellow of Green Templeton College in Oxford, UK, is currently mentoring two studies that explore how friendship can impact on health and wellbeing. Both programmes centre on the principles of William Osler, who maintained that science (a care technology) and humanity (a care attitude) must work together holistically, and they demonstrate that friendliness can […]
Treating low testosterone in males: A nasal gel shows promising results
Ranjith Ramasamy is an Associate Professor in the Department of Urology, University of Miami. His clinical work focuses on treating male infertility and sexual dysfunction, and he is involved in several research projects. One such project investigated a novel treatment for low testosterone, a nasal gel known as Natesto. An initial clinical trial showed that Natesto is a promising treatment […]
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Engineering virus nanoparticles to modulate coagulation
Using chemistry, Dr Andrew K. Udit, Occidental College, Los Angeles, is exploring novel ways that bacteria-infecting viruses (bacteriophage) may be able to reverse the anti-clotting effects of heparin. By specifically engineering a bacteriophage nanoparticle known as Q-beta, he has identified several candidates and now focuses on optimising and understanding what makes these nanoparticles so effective, as well as further studying […]
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Direct cardiac reprogramming to regenerate the heart
Infarction causes the loss of a consequent number of cardiac muscle cells. Unable to self-regenerate, these cells are replaced by fibroblasts. This can lead to heart failure. Priyadharshni Muniyandi, doctoral researcher and Dr M. Sheikh Mohamed, Associate Professor at the Bio-Nano Electronics Research Centre, Toyo University, work on direct cardiac reprogramming. Their technique uses microRNA encapsulated in a non-viral nanocarrier: […]
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Free blood donation vs. the plasma market
Blood products are vital both for transfusion purposes and the production of blood-derived medicines. Currently, the two ways of obtaining blood products are via free blood donations or via the international plasma market, an industry reliant on paid blood donations. Professor Jean Mercier Ythier of the University of Paris Panthéon-Assas explores the economics and ethics of the plasma market and […]
Breath hold techniques during volumetric modulated arc therapy in breast cancer patients
The research of Dr Vishruta Dumane, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, focuses on developing approaches to radiotherapy that will minimise risk to neighbouring organs and tissues, whilst maximising the impact of treatment to the tumour. Her recent work adds further support for the use of deep inspiration breath holds during radiotherapy (VMAT) to reduce exposure of […]
A measure to predict critical errors in open emergency surgery
Medical errors are a leading cause of worldwide deaths. Surgeons are sometimes required to carry out procedures that they do not perform frequently, which leads to surgical errors that can have severe consequences for patients. To confront this issue, Professor Colin Mackenzie, Emeritus Professor at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine, developed with his team, the Trauma Readiness Index […]
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Scalp microbiome gets to the root of dandruff
Dandruff is an extremely common cosmetic condition, but one that remains often difficult to treat. Research scientists Sally Grimshaw, Elaine Xu and Dr Barry Murphy, of Unilever R&D, have carried out a detailed genetic investigation of the scalp microbiome: the community of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms that live on the scalp skin. Their findings suggest that both bacteria and […]
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Using a computer to fight malaria: Finding new artemisinin-based combination therapies
Malaria still claims the lives of hundreds of thousands of people a year and the World Health Organisation identifies half the world’s population at risk from the disease. Even more worryingly, an increasing number of malaria strains are showing signs of drug resistance to existing treatments. One approach that still seems to be effective is the use of artemisinin-based combination […]
Sickle cell disease: Studying arteries with Doppler ultrasound
Sickle cell disease is one of the most common genetic diseases worldwide. Occlusion of blood vessels triggers painful crises and leads to various clinical manifestations such as kidney failure, leg ulcers, bowel ischemia, portal hypertension and retinopathy. Many imaging methods allow to observe vaso-occlusion but are limited by cost and availability issues. Dr Oluwagbemiga Ayoola of Obafemi Awolowo University in […]
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