Health News Topics For Interviews
Walking molecule superstructures could help create neurons for regenerative medicine
Imagine if surgeons could transplant healthy neurons into patients living with neurodegenerative diseases or brain and spinal cord injuries. And imagine if they could "grow" these neurons in the laboratory from a patient's own cells using a synthetic, highly bioactive material that is suitable for 3D printing.
By discovering a new printable biomaterial that can mimic properties of brain tissue, Northwestern University researchers are now closer to developing a platform capable of treating these conditions using regenerative medicine.
The superstructure and bioactive properties of the material could have vast implications for tissue regeneration. Neurons are stimulated by a protein in the central nervous system known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which helps neurons survive by promoting synaptic connections and allowing neurons to be more plastic. BDNF could be a valuable therapy for patients with neurodegenerative diseases and injuries in the spinal cord but these proteins degrade quickly in the body and are expensive to produce.
One of the molecules in the new material integrates a mimic of this protein that activates its receptor known as Trkb, and the team found that neurons actively penetrate the large pores and populate the new biomaterial when the mimetic signal is present.
Practical solutions for optimising hydration in care home residents
Adequate hydration is recognised as a fundamental care need (Care Quality Commission, 2017), ensuring that frail older people consume the recommended minimum amount of fluid each day can be challenging, particularly in care homes Dehydration can lead to delirium, falls, constipation and urinary and respiratory tract infections, and may require admission to hospital.
A quality improvement project called I-Hydrate carried out in two London care homes, provided valuable insights into both the challenges of keeping care home residents hydrated and the development of practical solutions.
Incorporating strategies to increase fluid offer and consumption into routine care delivery increased the amount of fluids residents received and drank. Other important aspects of the improvement work included providing more suitable drinking equipment, offering a larger choice of drinks, and increasing staff awareness through training.
A living WHO guideline on drugs for COVID-19
More than half of snacks marketed as healthy are high in fat, salt or sugar
Excessive salt consumption has been blamed for thousands of cases of heart disease, stroke and cancer.
Action on Salt assessed 119 snacks, including dried/roasted pulses and processed pulse snacks such as lentil curls, chickpea chips and puffs, finding some to be saltier than seawater.
Despite them being on average lower in fat, saturated fat and calories and higher in fibre than standard crisps and flavoured nuts, 43% were high in salt.
Public Health England published new voluntary salt reduction targets to encourage businesses to further reduce salt levels in foods that contribute most to salt intakes. We are banning adverts for foods high in fat, salt and sugar being shown on TV before 9pm and have consulted on a total advertising restriction online of these products.”
Sources:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210223110435.htm
BMJ 2020; 370 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3379 (Published 04 September 2020) Cite this as: BMJ 2020;370:m3379
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2021/mar/09/snacks-marketed-as-healthy-high-in-fat-salt-sugar
