Research

Robotic Thread is Designed to Slip through the Brain's Blood Vessels

MIT engineers have developed a magnetically steerable, thread-like robot that can actively glide through narrow, winding pathways, such as the labrynthine vasculature of the brain. In the future, this robotic thread may be paired with existing endovascular technologies, enabling doctors to remotely guide the robot through a patient's brain vessels to quickly treat blockages and lesions, such as those that occur in aneurysms and stroke.

Using a Smartphone to Detect Norovirus

A little bit of norovirus - the highly infectious microbe that causes about 20 million cases of food poisoning in the United States each year - goes a long way. Just 10 particles of the virus can cause illness in humans. A team of University of Arizona researchers has created a simple, portable and inexpensive method for detecting extremely low levels of norovirus.

Computer Model could Help Test New Sickle Cell Drugs

A team of Brown University researchers has developed a new computer model that simulates the way red blood cells become misshapen by sickle cell disease. The model, described in a paper published in Science Advances, could be useful in the preclinical evaluation of drugs aimed at preventing the sickling process.

Simple Computational Models can Help Predict Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis

Knee joint injuries, such as ligament rupture, are common in athletes. As the intact joint ligaments offer a precondition for joint stability, ligament injuries are often surgically reconstructed. However, in many cases these injuries or surgeries can lead to post-traumatic osteoarthritis. The articular cartilage, which serves to provide frictionless contact between bones, wears out completely, causing severe joint pain, lack of mobility and even social isolation.

Virtual Patients and In Silico Clinical Studies Improve Blue Light Treatment for Psoriasis

A new study supports the use of virtual patients and in silico clinical studies to evaluate the effectiveness of blue light to reduce the symptoms of psoriasis. Researchers also demonstrated that this in silico approach can be used to improve the treatment response of patients with psoriasis to blue light by modifying the settings of the therapeutic protocol, as reported in the study published in Systems Medicine, an open access journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

Successful First Trial for Dizziness Monitoring Device

A ground-breaking device to help patients with dizziness problems has moved a step forward following a successful research study. Researchers from UEA and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) have published the results of the biggest collection of continuous eye movement data after testing the effectiveness of a wearable diagnostic headset.

Artificial Intelligence Solution Improves Clinical Trial Recruitment

Clinical trials are a critical tool for getting new treatments to people who need them, but research shows that difficulty finding the right volunteer subjects can undermine the effectiveness of these studies. Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center designed and tested a new computerized solution that used artificial intelligence (AI) to effectively identify eligible subjects from Electronic Health Records (EHRs),