ECMOFOBIA, porque 14 picadelas por dia deixam qualquer um ecmofóbico...

domingo, 30 de dezembro de 2012

JDRF-funded HypoMon device now available

JDRF-funded HypoMon device now available

“The HypoMon was developed with the initial funding from JDRF and now has passed clinical trials and regulatory approval and is available for public use."

aqui tinha falado neste aparelho que serve para identificar hipoglicémias nocturnas (em docinhos com idades compreendidas entre os 10 e os 25 anos) e assim, proporcionar noites mais descansadas a todos - docinhos e cuidadores! Parece que foi aprovado para comercialização.

domingo, 23 de dezembro de 2012

Autoimmune disease: Retraining white blood cells

Autoimmune disease: Retraining white blood cells

Dec. 17, 2012 — How can the immune system be reprogrammed once it goes on the attack against its own body? EPFL scientists retrained T-cells involved in type I diabetes, a common autoimmune disease. Using a modified protein, they precisely targeted the white blood cells (T-lymphocytes, or T-cells) that were attacking pancreatic cells and causing the disease. When tested on laboratory mice, the therapy eliminated all signs of the pathology. This same method could be a very promising avenue for treating multiple sclerosis as well. The scientists have just launched a start-up company, Anokion SA, on the Lausanne campus, and are planning to conduct clinical trials within the next two years.

quinta-feira, 20 de dezembro de 2012

Photoactivated Insulin Depot

Parece-me uma excelente ideia, mas só acredito vendo... De qualquer forma, fico com as seguintes dúvidas: Tamanho do depósito - seria perceptível por debaixo da pele? Tempo médio de duração no corpo (claro que dependerá das necessidades de insulina de cada um e também da validade da própria insulina... um cartucho aberto não dura, à temperatura ambiente, mais de 28 dias... será que a tal membrana a protege da temperatura)? Processo de colocação - em casa? Tamanho do aparelho que emite o feixe de luz?
Vou tentar arranjar, na net, as respostas a estas perguntas, mas, para já, deixo-vos o artigo.

'Researchers at the University of Missouri-Kansas City have discovered a way to make insulin administration easier and more effective. This breakthrough could affect tens of millions of Type 1 diabetics worldwide by replacing needle sticks with a beam of light. (...)
With a photoactivated depot (PAD), insulin is linked to an insoluble polymer by a connection that can be broken with light. The depot can be injected just under the patient’s skin. Insulin can then be released from the polymer by light irradiation through the skin, and then absorbed into the body. Since one injected depot can contain a large amount of insulin, the PAD has the potential to eliminate hundreds of injections.'