In the 2013-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, more than 28,000 people were infected, causing over 11,000 deaths. While the long-term health impacts on survivors are still poorly understood, an increasing number of studies describe persistent clinical after-effects in these patients, such as generalized fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and eye disorders. To pinpoint these health problems, […]
Cancer diagnosis requires a lengthy process of multiple analyses of tissue biopsies, impeding the quick and early detection of cancers. In a new study, researchers from Osaka University developed a novel imaging system that uses near-infrared light to be less invasive and more time efficient than the conventional approach. Histopathological analysis, or the investigation of […]
Mobile medical microrobots can now be engineered in the lab for broad ranging applications from personalized disease treatment to targeted drug delivery. During their structural design, bioengineers aim to minimize physical interactions with cells of the immune system by optimizing the morphology (shape) of the device and its surface chemistry. It is therefore important to […]
Over the past few decades, medical technology has seen various advances in terms of the scope and efficiency of implantable devices. For example, developments in medical research have led to the emergence of electronic implants, such as pacemakers, to regulate the heart rate; and cerebral spinal shunts to control the flow of spinal fluid. Most […]
Whenever a germ gets into the human body, the immune system usually responds immediately to fight off the enemy attacker. One of our defense system’s most important strategies involves B lymphocytes, also known as B cells, which produce antibodies that target and neutralize pathogens. B cells play a central role in adaptive immunity and, together […]
White blood cells are known to circulate through the entire body through blood vessels, acting as a surveillance system. However, a specialized group of these cells are permanently present in tissues like the skin, intestine and lungs, protecting against external invaders such as microbes. But it is largely unknown how these cells are generated. A […]
As we continue our collective battle against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), you may have come across various claims of foods or supplements that supposedly increase your immunity against the disease. Here, we break down some basic facts about how nutrition plays into having a healthy immune system. “Boosting” the Immune System First, there are no […]
There are three main types of pain: nociceptive pain, the type we’re most familiar with, from bee stings and ankle strains to inflammatory arthritis. There’s neuropathic pain, arising from damage to the peripheral nervous system or the brain itself due to disease or injury. Then there are functional pain disorders arising from complex organic dysfunction, […]
From cutting back on salt and booze to taking your statins… How to keep your immune system fighting fit and ready to tackle infections Exercise is recommended as a way to boost your body’s immune system Readers should avoid salt as scientists say it reduces white blood cell’s strength It is also recommended that people […]
Researchers at Missouri S&T are developing an airborne-biohazard system that could help screeners spot air travelers with lung diseases due to coronavirus and other viruses. Professors in electrical and computer engineering are using machine learning to build a robust system to alert authorities to airborne biohazards as travelers pass through TSA security checkpoints. Assistant professor […]
