Science and Health News

American Heart Association Rapid Access Journal Report

Rice, Ben-Gurion universities find laser-induced graphene kills bacteria, resists biofouling

Note to journalists: Please report that this research will be presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.

We are glad to announce that the University of Edinburgh (UoE) and the Novosibirsk State University (NSU) has been awarded an Institutional Links Russia-UK grant by the British Council. The supported project will integrate various biomedical data aiming to decipher the molecular bases of cardiovascular diseases, one of the leading causes of mortality both in Russia and UK.

Food and Drug Administration approved Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) to treat adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). This is the first drug approved by the FDA for PPMS. Ocrevus is an intravenous infusion given by a health care professional.

The discovery of a chemical compound that halts the production of a small set of proteins while leaving general protein production untouched suggests a new drug search strategy: Find compounds that target undesired proteins before they are even made.

A research team, led by the University of Minnesota, has discovered a groundbreaking process to successfully rewarm large-scale animal heart valves and blood vessels preserved at very low temperatures. The discovery is a major step forward in saving millions of human lives by increasing the availability of organs and tissues for transplantation through the establishment of tissue and organ banks.

Battery-operated medical devices implanted in human bodies have saved countless lives. A common implant, the cardioverter defibrillator, sends a jolt of electricity to the heart when needed, preventing a heart attack or heart failure. While patients’ lives are improved by this technology, if the device causes an infection or the battery needs to be replaced, more invasive procedures are necessary.