Author: lisaweiner

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Brain

Brain cholesterol map could lead to neurodegeneration therapies, help guide surgery

William Griffiths and Swansea University colleagues have developed a method to map cholesterol in the brain, and understand potential molecule conversion. This is the first technology that can map cholesterol metabolism in defined locations at microscopic levels, and visualize how it changes in pathological niches in the brain.

While only studied on mice, the hope is that the technology can also be used to understand brain function changes in humans with neurodegenerative disorders. Griffiths added that “tissue excised during surgery could rapidly be profiled by our method in-clinic and used to distinguish healthy from diseased tissue, informing the surgeon on the next step of the operation.”

Collaborator Yuqin Wang said: “Our results show that cholesterol turnover is particularly high in striatum, the area most affected in Huntington’s disease. We will apply this method to find out how cholesterol metabolism is associated with this disease. This may lead to the development of new therapies to a disease which currently has no cure.”

Categories
Sensors

AirPod light sensors for health monitoring

A source has told DigiTimes that Apple supplier ASE Technology will manufacture ambient light sensors for AirPods. This could be used to monitor step count, head movement, and heart rate. It could also track blood oxygen levels — a key metric in detecting COVID-19.

The shift from consumer-grade to less-obtrusive medical-grade health monitoring at scale is the obvious way forward.

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Brain EEG

Tattoo electrodes for long-term EEG, MEG measurements

Graz University professor Francesco Greco has built on his earlier work to create advanced inkjet printed conductive polymer electrodes on tattoo paper. The composition and thickness of the transfer paper and conductive polymer have been optimized to achieve a better electrode/skin connection and improve EEG signal quality.

The cheap, user-friendly, dry electrodes have shown similar reliability to traditional EEG electrodes in clinical tests. They can be used for long-term EEG and MEG measurements as they do not contain metal.

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Brain Consciousness

Sniff test predicts consciousness recovery

Cambridge scientist Anat Arzi and Yaron Sacher of Israel’s Beit Lowenstein Rehabilitation Center have developed a simple olfactory consciousness test.

In a study, 43 unconscious brain-injured pateients were presented with jars containing various smells under their noses. Scents included pleasant shampoo, unpleasant rotten fish, and no odor.

Scientists measured the volume of air inhaled through the nose in response to the odors. Each jar was presented to the patient ten times in random order during several such sessions.

All patients who were classified as being in a ‘vegetative state’ and responded to the sniff test, later regained consciousness (sometimesi minimally.) According to Arzi, “In some cases, the result of the sniff test was the first sign that these patients were about to recover consciousness — and this reaction was observed days, weeks and even months prior to any other signs.”

The researchers claim that the sniff response was able to predict three year survival 92% accuracy.

Categories
Covid-19 Stem Cells

Stem cell treatment for ARDS in COVID-19 patients

Last week, Pluristem released initial results from its compassionate use program for the treatment of patients with acute respiratory failure and inflammatory complications resulting from COVID-19. The treatment was administered in an Israeli hospital. All seven ICU patients with ARDS treated with Pluristem’s PLX cell therapy have survived. 6 out of 7 have completed the seven-day follow-up (one is still within the period. 4 out of the 6 (66%) patients displayed improvement in respiratory parameters, and 3 of the 6 (50%) patients are in late stages of weaning from ventilators.

Pluristem has now treated its first COVID-19 patient in the United States. under the FDA’s Single Patient Expanded Access Program, also called a compassionate use program, which is part of the U.S. Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (CTAP.) The patient was treated with PLX cell therapy at Holy Name Medical Center in New Jersey, an acute care facility that is currently an active site for Pluristem’s Phase III critical limb ischemia (CLI) study. Prior to treatment with PLX, the patient was critically ill with respiratory failure due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and was under mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit (ICU) for three weeks.

PLX cells are available off-the-shelf and once commercialized, can be manufactured in large scale quantities, offering an advantage in addressing a global pandemic. PLX cells are allogeneic mesenchymal-like cells that have immunomodulatory properties that induce the immune system’s natural regulatory T cells and M2 macrophages, and thus may prevent or reverse the dangerous overactivation of the immune system. PLX cells may reduce the incidence and\or severity of COVID-19 pneumonia and pneumonitis leading hopefully to a better prognosis for the patients. Previous pre-clinical findings of PLX cells revealed therapeutic benefit in animal studies of pulmonary hypertension, lung fibrosis, acute kidney injury and gastrointestinal injury which are potential complications of the severe COVID-19 infection. Clinical data using PLX cells demonstrated the strong immunomodulatory potency of PLX cells in patients post major surgery. This is a potential therapy for mitigating the tissue-damaging effects of COVID-19.

Categories
Covid-19

Continuous COVID-19 PPG vital sign monitoring in hospital and home

Biobeat‘s wrist wearable uses PPG wave reading for continuous, cuffless, noninvasive medical-grade monitoring of blood pressure, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, heart rate, temperature and other vitals. It is being widely used for Israeli COVID-19 patients in hospitals and at home.

Categories
Covid-19

UCSF/Oura ring COVID-19 onset, progression, recovery study

UCSF’s Ashley Mason is using the Oura Ring to build an algorithm to help identify patterns of onset, progression, and recovery, for COVID-19.

The study will combine physiological data (temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate) with responses to daily symptom surveys from 2,000 front-line healthcare workers and the general population. It will be open to all Oura ring users.

The approach, if successful, could be used to track and manage other illnesses and conditions.

Click for details of the TemPredict study.

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BCI Brain Featured

Facebook’s Mark Chevillet on Brain-Computer-Interfaces

Mark Chevillet’s recent talk at the ApplySci Silicon Valley conference, called “Imagining a new Interface: Hands-free Communication With Out Saying a Word” is now live on the ApplySci YouTube Channel.

Join ApplySci at Deep Tech Health + Neurotech Boston on September 24, 2020 at MIT

Categories
Sensors

Ultra thin sensor measures pulse, scans fingerprints, vein patterns

University of Tokyo’s Takao Someya has developed a very thin sensor, worn around the finger or arm, which measures pulses and scans fingerprints and vein patterns, which can prevent identification errors in hospitals and nursing homes.

It consists of a thin film transistor and an optical sensor, based on Takao Someya, on a sheet, allowing simultaneous high-resolution imaging and high-speed data readouts.

The sensor will be refined to also measure blood sugar levels and blood oxygen content.

Join ApplySci next week at Wearable Tech + Digital Health + Neurotech Silicon Vally, where Zhenan Bao, Sheng Xu, Wei Gao and others will discuss the latest developments in chemical and electronic biosensors.

Categories
Brain DBS Parkinson's

Directional DBS system targets GPi to relieve Parkinson’s symptoms

Abbott received FDA approval for an expanded indication for its Deep Brain Stimulation system, to include targeting of internal globus pallidus. The GPi plays an integral role in motor function. When targeted with DBS, Parkonson’s symptoms not adequately controlled by medication can improve.

The directed stimulation system is now approved for all major targets used to treat movement disorders, using an iOS software platform and Bluetooth.

The company’s PROGRESS study is the largest DBS study for directional lead use in Parkinson’s disease.

Abbott’s Erika Ross will discuss advanced neurmodulation technologies at ApplySci’s Wearable Tech + Digital Health + Neurotech Silicon Valley conference on February 11-12, 2020

Categories
Brain

Injected nanoparticles could reduce TBI swelling

In what he believes might be the first “real and practical treatment for people with significant traumatic brain injury,” Northwestern’s John Kessler was able to significantly reduce brain swelling and damage by injecting nanoparticles into the bloodstream within two hours after the injury. The very promising technology has, so far, only been tested on mice.

After a traumatic brain injury, the body launches an inflammatory reaction that triggers a cascade of immune responses that result in brain swelling. Surgeons can open the skull to relieve the pressure, but the brain still continues to swell.”   

The nanoparticles work as a decoy to distract the immune cells from charging into the brain and causing more damage. The immune modifying nanoparticles do not contain drugs or cargo.

After a traumatic brain injury, monocytes rush to the injury site and attempt to clean up debris from damaged brain cells and secrete inflammatory proteins that stimulate other immune cells. However, this produces swelling and inflammation that damages surrounding healthy brain tissue.

When the scientists inject the nanoparticles into the bloodstream shortly after the injury, these monocytes are tricked into thinking the nanoparticles are invading foreign materials. They engulf the particles and usher them to the spleen for disposal. The distracted monocytes are no longer around to enter the brain and cause problems.  

In the study, mice that received the nanoparticles after a traumatic brain injury had greatly reduced swelling and half the damage to brain tissue compared to those who did not receive the nanoparticles. One of the injury models mimicked a closed head traumatic brain injury common in humans. In that model, the animals’ motor and visual function improved after the nanoparticle injection.

Join ApplySci at the 13th Wearable Tech + Digital Health + Neurotech Silicon Valley conference on February 11-12, 2020 at Quadrus Sand Hill Road.  Speakers include:  Zhenan Bao, Stanford – Vinod Khosla, Khosla Ventures – Mark Chevillet, Facebook – Shahin Farshchi, Lux Capital – Carla Pugh, Stanford – Nathan Intrator, Tel Aviv University | Neurosteer – Wei Gao, Caltech – Sergiu Pasca, Stanford – Walter Greenleaf, Stanford – Sheng Xu, UC San Diego – Dror Ben-Zeev, University of Washington – Mikael Eliasson, Roche  – Unity Stoakes, StartUp Health – Garth Smith, Ontario Brain Institute – Erika Ross, Abbott Neuromodulation

Categories
3-D Printing Respiratory

3D printed, custom fitted airway stents

Cleveland Clinic physician Tom Gildea used CT scans and visualization software to develop 3D printed silicone stents used to open the airways of patients with tumors, inflammation, trauma or other masses. The technology has now been approved by the FDA.

Standard airway stents come in a limited number of sizes and shapes and are generally designed for larger airways. As every patient’s anatomy is different, it difficult to get a perfect fit, especially for those with complex conditions. Poorly fitted stents can become distorted, and cause the growth of new tissue, mucus impaction and tissue death.

In studies, the 3D printed stents lasted about a year before needing to be changed, versus 90 days for stock stents. Procedure times were shorter and patient-reported symptoms improved, leading to a reduction in changes and modifications.

It’s estimated that 30,000 airway stents will be implanted in the U.S. in 2020

Join ApplySci at the 13th Wearable Tech + Digital Health + Neurotech Silicon Valley conference on February 11-12, 2020 at Quadrus Sand Hill Road.  Speakers include:  Zhenan Bao, Stanford – Vinod Khosla, Khosla Ventures – Mark Chevillet, Facebook – Shahin Farshchi, Lux Capital – Carla Pugh, Stanford – Nathan Intrator, Tel Aviv University | Neurosteer – Wei Gao, Caltech – Sergiu Pasca, Stanford – Walter Greenleaf, Stanford – Sheng Xu, UC San Diego – Dror Ben-Zeev, University of Washington – Mikael Eliasson, Roche  – Unity Stoakes, StartUp Health – Garth Smith, Ontario Brain Institute – Erika Ross, Abbott Neuromodulation