Lifeboat Foundation

With the summer Covid wave still rising, experts say the timing for getting vaccinated is important.

Researchers from North Carolina State University and Johns Hopkins University have demonstrated a technology capable of a suite of data storage and computing functions—repeatedly storing, retrieving, computing, erasing or rewriting data—that uses DNA rather than conventional electronics. Previous DNA data storage and computing technologies could complete some but not all of these tasks.

Dr. Matt Lyon, MD: “We are not entirely sure what causes these issues with vision, but we suspect it has to do with a shift in cerebrospinal fluid in the optic nerve sheath. On Earth, gravity pushes that fluid down and it drains out, but in space, it floats up and presses against the optic nerve and retina.”

How does spaceflight affect vision loss in astronauts for both the short and long term? This is what a combined effort between the upcoming Polaris Dawn mission and the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) at Augusta University hopes to achieve as the four-person crew will be using a portable ultrasound machine to study changes in vision during spaceflight. This is especially prevalent since the four-person crew will be traveling in an elliptical orbit 870 miles above the Earth’s surface, exposing them to the Van Allen radiation belt, which is a highly radiated region of space between the Earth and the Moon.

For context, the International Space Station orbits approximately 250 miles above the Earth, and this research holds the potential to further explore the effects of space radiation on the human body, and specifically vision loss.

Continue reading “Mitigating Spaceflight Vision Risks: The Role of Portable Ultrasound in Polaris Dawn” »

Researchers are developing an innovative device designed to deliver chemotherapy directly to the surgical site, aiming to reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer recurrence.

Approved a new initial treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer after clinical trials showed patients lived longer without disease progression, compared to the standard treatment currently…

The city is considering whether to spend federal funds to offer personalized transcranial magnetic stimulation, or PrTMS, to public safety personnel who may feel groggy from poor sleep or want to improve interactions with the public.

Dr. Kevin Murphy explained the drug-free, noninvasive therapy at workshops Monday in Turlock. Therapy performed in a clinic directs magnetic pulses to stimulate electrical activity in neurons in the brain to regulate moods and restore mental well-being. The treatment is tailored for each individual based on an EEG and mapping of brain activity.

Murphy said the benefits for first responders will be fewer injuries and complaints, better sleep and employee satisfaction. The doctor said improved sleep is a common denominator for people who come into the clinic struggling with different issues.

Summary: New research in mice reveals that aging slows the brain’s ability to clear out harmful waste, contributing to neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Scientists have found that restoring function in the brain’s waste-clearing system, known as the glymphatic system, can reverse these age-related effects.

Using a clinically approved drug, researchers increased the efficiency of waste removal, offering a potential treatment strategy for age-related brain diseases.

University of Colorado Boulder scientists have discovered that proteins left by COVID-19 can significantly lower cortisol levels in the brain, leading to heightened immune responses to new stressors.

This research, focusing on the neurological symptoms of Long COVID, utilized rats to demonstrate how SARS-CoV-2 antigens persist in the body and alter brain function. This persistent effect could explain the severe and varied symptoms of Long COVID, suggesting potential directions for further research and symptom management strategies.

Understanding covid-19’s long-term impact on the brain.

The brain-computer interface offers real-time feedback to boost rehab adherence.

Rehabilitation robots could help patients in the future by reading their neural activity via a headset.

Continue reading “Brainwave-reading robot ‘coaches’ could rehabilitate stroke survivors” »