Multistep Lateral Flow Devices Perform Advanced Assays
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a lateral flow test platform that can perform advanced assays that would otherwise require a laboratory. By controlling the flow of liquid through the lateral flow test, the research team designed it so that it can perform advanced multistep assays that do not require sophisticated lab equipment and significant periods of time. So far, they have designed advanced dipstick tests that can detect both COVID-19 and influenza simultaneously, and others that can perform immunoassays to detect Zika virus, HIV, hepatitis B virus, or malaria.
Lateral flow assays, otherwise ...
Source: Medgadget - November 10, 2021 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Diagnostics Medicine Pathology Public Health georgiatech Source Type: blogs
Developments In Psychology ’s Covid Research
By Emma L. Barratt
Early in the pandemic, there was a rapid shift in the pace of research. With the situation evolving quickly, lockdowns coming into effect, and the massive loss of life that followed, researchers across academia were racing against the clock to produce papers.
This haste was unusual for most scientists, more used to detailed scrutiny, further investigations, and collaboration. As a result, some were concerned about the rigour of papers that would ultimately see the light of day. Early on, psychologist Vaughan Bell tweeted with regards to Covid research, “If it’s urgent, the urgency is to ...
Source: BPS RESEARCH DIGEST - November 8, 2021 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: BPS Research Digest Tags: Coronavirus Feature Source Type: blogs
Spikevax Induces Durable Protection from the Delta Variant in Rhesus Macaques
Rhesus macaques that are vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 are protected from severe disease and probably transmit very little virus when infected with SARS-CoV-2 one year later. (Source: virology blog)
Source: virology blog - November 4, 2021 Category: Virology Authors: Gertrud U. Rey Tags: Basic virology Gertrud Rey ACE2 antibody antibody affinity antibody avidity delta variant human challenge model IgA IgG immunity memory B cell Moderna mRNA-1273 mucosal immunity neutralizing antibody rhesus macaque SARS-C Source Type: blogs
COVID-19 Vaccine Patch Does Not Require Cold Chain Transport
Researchers at the University of Queensland and Vaxxas, a medtech company, announced the development of a high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) that can deliver a COVID-19 vaccine through the skin without the need for needles. While such minimally invasive vaccine technology is to be welcomed, the major breakthrough is the temperature stability of the vaccine. The researchers were able to stabilize the formulation on the patch so that it can last for one month at room temperature and one week at 40 degrees Celsius (104 F), meaning that the new vaccine technology could help to overcome the cold chain transport hurdles.
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Source: Medgadget - November 1, 2021 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Materials Medicine Public Health Source Type: blogs
Mandatory SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinations in K-12 Schools, Colleges/Universities, and Businesses
Lawrence O. Gostin (Georgetown University), Jana Shaw (SUNY), Daniel Salmon (Johns Hopkins University), Mandatory SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinations in K-12 Schools, Colleges/Universities, and Businesses, J. Am. Med. Ass ’n. (2021): The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued guidance that fully... (Source: HealthLawProf Blog)
Source: HealthLawProf Blog - November 1, 2021 Category: Medical Law Authors: Katharine Van Tassel Source Type: blogs
Fight Aging! Newsletter, November 1st 2021
In conclusion, mitophagy pathways play an important role in maintaining physiological homeostasis, are involved in the mechanisms of aging and neurodegenerative disorders, and represent promising targets for the development of potential therapeutic agents aimed at regulating mitochondria quality control in neurons and glial cells. A significant number of molecules that induce or inhibit mitophagy are currently under consideration, which may be useful for testing hypotheses or developing drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The validation of promising drugs in animal and cell models, including neurons and ...
Source: Fight Aging! - October 31, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
Carbon Nanotube Sensor Detects SARS-CoV-2 Within 5 Minutes
Scientists at MIT announced the development of a rapid COVID-19 test that can detect the virus in a saliva sample in as little as five minutes. The technology does not require antibodies or other expensive reagents typically associated with protein detection, and is instead based on carbon nanotubes. The nano-structures are encased in a web of polymers, into which the target molecules stick, altering the fluorescent signal generated when the nanotubes are illuminated using a laser. The researchers were able to rapidly adapt the nanotube technology to detect SARS-CoV-2, suggesting that it could be useful in future pandemics...
Source: Medgadget - October 27, 2021 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Materials Medicine Nanomedicine Public Health mit Source Type: blogs
Suggesting that Viral Infection Can Promote the Spread of Protein Aggregates in the Brain
There is an ongoing debate over whether or not persistent viral infection plays an important role in the development of Alzheimer's disease. That is largely focused on the function of the immune system, given the demonstrated relevance of chronic inflammation and microglial dysfunction to the progression of neurodegenerative conditions. Here, however, researchers provide in vitro evidence to support the hypothesis that viral infection can promote the spread of misfolded proteins between cells in the brain. Aggregates of misfolded or otherwise harmfully modified proteins such as amyloid-β, α-synuclein, and tau are involve...
Source: Fight Aging! - October 27, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Good Grief! Where Have I Been All This Time ‽
My life was briefly put on hold, thanks to a certain virus, but now I’m back, more cheeky& cynical than ever!So much for new beginnings.A week after my knee surgery, just as I was able to feel more human than sore, I became sick. Then sicker. Then sicker still. A quick visit to the InstaCare on a quiet Sunday evening ushered me into my new life of exhaustion and fatigue.I’ve had five or six COVID–19 tests since the pandemic began. They were almost beginning to feel routine. That Sunday night was no different. I showed up to pick up my pre-registered self-test, then opted to be seen instead because I f...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - October 27, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Depression Goodreads Somnambulating Spinning Visualizing Source Type: blogs
The lab leak hypothesis: Stick a fork in it
I have never really understood why this is so important to the wingnuts. Oh well, I suppose I do. It was a way to gin up a narrative to smear Anthony Fauci. That is the claim that Covid-19 originated in a laboratory in Wuhan which had indirect funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, which Fauci heads. The non-insane version of this was that it was an accidental release, which would be worth knowing. The insane version was that Fauci was the mastermind of a plot to foist the virus on the world in order to bring about a One World Socialist Dictatorship. On the other hand, the pandemic is a hoax...
Source: Stayin' Alive - October 21, 2021 Category: American Health Source Type: blogs
Vaccine Delivery Device Inspired by BBQ Lighter
A team at Georgia Tech tinkered together a battery-free electroporation device to deliver DNA vaccines, which is inspired by BBQ lighters. The details of the workings of the vaccine injector are described in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The electric ‘spark’ that ignites the gas flowing from a BBQ gas lighter has been repurposed to provide the power behind the electroporation. The battery-free piezoelectric sparking mechanism from a lighter is attached to a microneedle patch that acts as an array of electrodes. When the device is pressed against the skin, it initiates electroporation and delivery of ...
Source: Medgadget - October 21, 2021 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Medicine Pediatrics Public Health Source Type: blogs
Fight Aging! Newsletter, October 18th 2021
In this study, we therefore analysed the influence of lithium treatment on lifespan and parameters of health during ageing in mice.
To determine the concentration of lithium suitable to be administered in a longitudinal ageing study, we first tested the effects of lithium chloride (LiCl) in doses from 0.01 to 2.79 g LiCl per kg chow. C57Bl/6J mice fed with 1.05-2.79 g/kg LiCL in the diet showed lithium plasma levels between 0.4 and 0.8 mM/l. While plasma levels to 0.4 and 0.8 mM/l are well tolerated by human patients, at doses above 1.44 g LiCl/kg, we observed an obvious dose-dependent polydipsia combined with a dis...
Source: Fight Aging! - October 17, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
