Genetherapy

Archive for the ‘Bio Engineering’ Category

ANNOUNCEMENT
I have just recieved this e-mail:

Come join the 6th World Congress on Biomechanics 2010 in Singapore!

Since 1990, the World Congress on Biomechanics has been held once every four years. The venue revolves around North America, Europe and Asia. The 6th World Congress on Biomechanics (WCB) 2010 will be held in Singapore from 1 to 6 August 2010 at the Suntec Convention Centre. Check out the website: www.wcb2010.net

Call for Abstracts

Please submit your abstracts here:
http://www.wcb2010.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2:abstracts-submission&catid=3:abstracts&Itemid=114

Deadline for submission of abstracts; 01 March 2010

This summer school on “Modelling in Biomechanics and Mechanobiology at Different Length Scales” is organised by Prof. Holzapfel in Graz, Austria, in the period July 5-9, 2010.

This course is addressed to PhD students but may also be accessible to some undergraduate students with relevant background.

More details of the Summer School can be found at the website:
www.biomech.tugraz.at/summerschool-2010

There is a PhD position available on Development of a Mechanistic Wear Model for Analysing the Performance of Total Knee

Replacemen at the University of Southampton, UK. You can find more information on the position here.

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Dr. Georges Limbert, Bioengineering Sciences

Research Group & National Centre for Advanced Tribology (nCATS), SES, University of Southampton, Tel:

+44-(0)23-8059-2381. Email: g.limbert@soton.ac.uk

Here you can find an article written by Ms. Susan Jacob* as a guest blogger.

University of North Carolina (UNC) and Harvard scientists have recently teamed up to develop an inhaled tuberculosis vaccine. This vaccine is a godsend for developing countries, as it won’t require refrigeration and medical-grade water like the typical vaccine.

Professor Tony Hickey, who teaches at the School of Pharmacy at UNC, tells The Kansas City Star, “This is arguably the first step towards future potential vaccines that elicit greater immunity to tuberculosis.” Indeed, third-world countries are still being ravaged by the respiratory illness, which reportedly kills millions of people a year in developing areas.

This new inhalant was created by taking the regular tuberculosis vaccine and changing it into fine powder. Experts from both UNC and Harvard collaborated on this project in the laboratory of David Edwards. Edwards is a professor of biomedical engineering at Harvard. The development of the new vaccine was made possible by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Though the inhalant has yet to be tested on human subjects, guinea pigs have responded well thus far. Scientists have administered the drug to the animals, then exposed them to tuberculosis. Not only did the vaccine work well, it appeared to be even more effective than the regular vaccine injections.

The new vaccine will be administered with a plastic tube, which is reportedly similar to a drinking straw. The inhalant is taken orally, which can pose problems with young children. To combat this issue, a special pacifier may be designed for babies to that the inhalant will be blown into the back of their mouths.

The next step to getting the drug on the market is to begin human clinical trials. Hopefully, the vaccination could be used in South Africa as soon as 2009.

*Susan Jacobs is a teacher, a freelance writer as well as a regular contributor for NOEDb, a site helping students obtain an online nursing degree. Susan invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address susan.jacobs45@gmail.com .

I was reading a press release from IBM about a technique called Magnetic Resonnance Force Microscopy(MRFM). Through this technique, one could acheive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a volume resolution 100 million times finer than conventional MRI which is really impressive. Moreover, the technique could be extremely usefull for 3D imaging of small viruses or proteins. The image shows the set up of the apparatus.

The magnetic resonance force microscope (MRFM) is a novel scanned probe instrument which combines the three-dimensional imaging capabilities of magnetic resonance imaging with the high sensitivity and resolution of atomic force microscopy. It will enable non-destructive, chemical-specific, high-resolution microscopic studies and imaging of subsurface properties of a broad range of materials. This technology holds clear potential for atomic-scale resolution.( reference)

Here is a recent journal article published in ‘ proceedings of the national academy of sciences’ where you can find more detailed and scientific explanations about the technique:
Degen et al., ”nanoscale magnetic resonance imaging”, the article is in the presse( published already online),

There is a video on youtube that explains simply how the system works:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AAA4FGKCBik

International Partnering Meeting & Successful R&D Project Preparation for the Second Call for Proposals in the Nanotechnology, Materials and New Production Technologies Programme

Initiate your collaborative project or become a partner in an EU-project
The general aim of the international partnering meeting is to facilitate transnational R&D-collaboration between industry, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and research organisations active in the field of manufacturing and in particular to setup Framework Programme 7 (FP7) projects.

Targeted Audience: European and Swiss representatives from manufacturing industry and related academia; etc.

Deadline to send 5 min presentations: 11 Jan 2008

more detailed information: click here!

Collagen is one the important load-bearing components in the body and the collagen structure has a distinct role in mechanical properties of the tissue. One of the challenges today is to visualize the collagen structure in live tissues or fresh tissues without fixing the tissue. It’s clear that fixing methods are invasive and may alter the tissue structure. As an example, in tissue engineering experiments, visualization of changes in collagen three dimensional structure is essential for the understanding of collagen fibrils formation and remodeling.

Fluorescent CNA35 collagen probe developed in the laboratory of macromolecular and organic chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands, shows much specificity to collagen compared to other existing fluorescent techniques currently used for collagen visualization in live tissues and shows improved details compared to SHG ( second harmonic generation microscopy). However, in my opinion, the tissue should be relatively thin to let the prob perfuse all over the tissue.

The figure shows a mouse carotid artery, (Up) SHG signal of collagen (green), (down) fluorescence signal of collagen probe (green, CNA35-OG488) in a mouse carotid artery recorded at the same focal position obtained with two-photon laser scanning microscopy (15 ?m deep)

reference:
High resolution imaging of collagen organisation and synthesis using a versatile collagen specific probe, Journal of Structural Biology
Volume 159, Issue 3, September 2007, Pages 392-399

Use of wireless systems in medical devices brings in most of cases more comfort and less damage to the patient. As an example one can name the Bravo pH monitoring system of Medtronics.

The catheter-free Bravo pH Monitoring System is a pH testing with a capsule that collects pH data and transmits it via radio frequency telemetry to a small external pager-sized receiver worn by the patient.

The ambulatory pH test has long been referred to as the “gold standard” for diagnosing reflux disease. This test provides information about the duration, pattern and symptom correlation of distal esophageal acid exposure from gastro-esophageal reflux(GER).

compared to conventional methods associated with using catheter pH systems, this method:

• Allows patients to maintain regular diet and activities
• Minimizes throat and nasal discomfort
• Allows physicians to extend pH data collection to 48 hours — 24 hours beyond the recording capability of conventional catheter systems

more information: click here

Bioengineering 08 ,Imperial College, London, Thursday 18 September-Friday 19 September

If you are interested to attend to this symposium or get more information, click here.

Patients recovering from surgery or injuries may soon be able to physically play their way to a full recovery with intelligent robotic systems that generate specialized games to challenge the human body’s abilities.

abilities Henrik Hautop Lund, a robotics and artificial-intelligence professor at the University of Southern Denmark is developing therapy tiles that guide patients through physical routines and help them heal.

Each tile is a miniature robotic system employing neural networks. The system looks like an elaborate, electronic version of Twister. As patients step on or press the tiles with their hands, the tiles give feedback, indicating whether ther pressure is firm enough, or if the user is moving quickly enough. Individuals can use the game alone, or up to four patients can compete against each other in a game. The tiles can be assembled in any configuration on the walls and floor to create an intelligent game space.

reference

The meeting would be interested for those working in the field of Bioengineering in Switzerland. The conference is organised by the BMES* chapter at EPFL( Swiss federal institute of Technology,Lausanne)

Numerous patients who need a screening of the colon do not go through the procedure for fear of the procedure. The colonoscopy procedure that is currently available involves inserting a flexible tube with a viewing instrument into the rectum. It requires anaesthesia and there’s a remote chance that the colon wall could be perforated by the tube. However, patients now have an easier option with the discovery of a procedure called ‘Virtual Colonoscopy’. This procedure, allows computerized scanning of the colon which is more comfortable for the patient. The patient is made to lie down in a computerized tomography (CT) scanner while a small probe is inserted into the rectum so that the colon can be inflated with carbon dioxide gas. The CT scanner then takes 3 dimensional images of the whole colon, which can then be examined for polyps. The patient does not need anaesthesia and the procedure takes only half an hour. However, the procedure is purely diagnostic and if doctors find a polyp, the regular colonoscopy procedure has to be done for removal and assessment of the polyp. Further, cleansing of bowel is still required that most of patients find unpleasant.

reference: Bio-Medecine

Brigham Young University researchers recently developed a new anticoagulation strategy for use during extracorporeal circulation (ECC) that does not involve systemic administration of heparin, which causes negative reactions in three to 10 percent of surgical patients. “Rather than give something to the patient to prevent coagulation, let’s take something out,” says BYU biomedical engineer Kenneth A. Solen, who led the study published in the August issue of ASAIO Journal (the journal of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs).

Solen’s team inhibited coagulation by absorbing plasma clotting factors using protamine immobilized on a Sepharose matrix (PSM). In a porcine ex-vivo circuit, plasma was separated from blood via plasmapheresis, passed through a column containing PSM beads, and then returned. After 90 minutes, prothrombin time (PT) was prolonged more than 10 times the baseline and blood clotting Factors I (fibrinogen), II (prothrombin), VIII, and X were decreased more than 90 percent. This state was maintained for 2 ½ hours without any detectable adverse consequences. Within 60 minutes of ECC cessation, PT approached normal levels and hemostasis was restored.

For More readings: Take a look at here.

Source:

Blake Ferguson
University Communications
Brigham Young University

“Venture 2008 takes you from business idea to professional business plan and all the way to the financing and founding of a company. The Venture business plan competition takes place every two years and combines a competition, learning events and contact forum in one.”

Venture 2008 is an initiative of the ETH Zurich and McKinsey & Company, Switzerland. The Swiss-wide business plan competition supports young entrepreneurs in founding a company.

Experienced coaches support competition participants in the preparation of their business plans and in the search for suitable partners and the necessary capital. Participants also receive feedback from the team of highly qualified jurors. The jurors (approximately 80 people) belong to one of two groups: entrepreneurs, who evaluate the formal and business aspects of an idea, and venture capitalists, who evaluate its financial attractiveness. Jury members also act as coaches. Venture 2008 offers total prize money of CHF 150,000 for the winning business ideas and business plans.

For details of the competion click here.

Lately, I have been participating in a course given by Prof. Gruber at the college of management of technology at EPFL on entrepreneurial opportunity identification and exploitation.

Here, I would like to make a brief resume of what I found interesting during recent discussions that we had in the program. This is about the very early stage of entrepreneurship when one might search or discover, through a mere idea or a technology, feasible market applications. I hope, this would be helpful for those researchers who seek to found a start-up or simply apply their knowledge in the “real world”.

XXXIIème congrès annuel de la société de Biomécanique,
Lyon,France 28-29 août 2007

XXXIIth annual meeting of French biomechanical societyLyon,France 28-29 August 2007

Here, you can find the announcement and registration form for the following symposium:

Cardiovascular Diseases -

The Blood, the Vasculature, and the Perivasculature

(October 18 and 19^th, 2007, Fribourg, Switzerland)

Organizers: Zhihong Yang and Brenda R.

Registration is free but mandatory.

“Innovation in Drug Delivery: From Biomaterials to Devices”
30 September – 3 October 2007

During the last annual meeting of SSBE in Neuchatel, Switzerland, there was an interesting talk about a project called CURE, an undergoing study at the Karmanos Cancer institute,Detroit(USA). The talk was given by Prof. Neb Duric.

Here is a summary of Cure project:

C.U.R.E.: Computed Ultrasound Risk Evaluation

The project is an attempt to image breast, based on the interaction of acoustic waves with human tissue.

It is known that the relative risk of developing breast cancer is dependent on breast density. However, since x-ray mammography has poor sensitivity in dense breasts, the reliance on mammography to measure density has prevented expanded adoption of breast density as a risk factor. The ultrasound tomography provides a safe and alternative measure for assessing beast cancer risk and for identifying high risk groups.

Ultrasound tomography does not use ionizing radiation and does not compress the breast. For those who have already been subject to mamography, it is clear that squeasing the breast to bring it to an almost 2D state, is really painful. This approach would provide a potentially more specific alternative to mammography.

For more information about the project, take a look at this reference, where one should find even a nice powerpoint file.There are more information available on results of the project as well.

In order to adapt better my posts to those who frequent my blog, I would appreciate if you answer the following question:

Swissmedic is the central Swiss supervisory authority for therapeutic products. It is a public service organization of the federal government with headquarters in Bern.

Its core competence includes

• licensing medicines
• granting authorizations to manufacture and distribute wholesale, and inspecting facilities
• monitoring medicines and medical devices already on the market
• controlling the traffic of narcotics
• laboratory testing of medicine quality
• drafting laws and standards

Medical devices Vigilance:

In order to monitor medical devices already on the market, manufacturers and distributors placing medical devices on the Swiss market are required to report all serious incidents and recalls that are carried out for safety reasons.

• The European guidelines on vigilance to report procedure applies also in Switzerland. MEDDEV 2.12/1.
• Incidents: people responsible for the product on the market, should report incidences to Swissmed. An information sheet from Swissmedic describes the legal obligations and the reporting procedure for serious incidents.
• Recalls: In case of recall of a product from market, Swissmedic should be informed.

To get more information about Vigilance procedure in Switzerland, take a look at the following link:

Vigilance: reporting serious incidents with medical devices

As part of their infection cycle, many viruses must package their newly replicated genomes inside a protein capsid to insure its proper transport and delivery to other host cells. Bacteriophage 29 packages its 6.6mm long double-stranded DNA into a 42 nm dia. X 54 nm high capsid via a portal complex that hydrolyses ATP. This process is remarkable because entropic, electrostatic, and bending energies of the DNA must be overcome to package the DNA to near-crystalline density.

A small Introduction on different vascular layers:

The walls of all blood vessels, except the very smallest, have three distinct layers, or tunics( ‘covering’) , that surround a central blood-containing space, the vessel lumen. The innermost tunic is the tunica intima which is in direct contact with the blood in the lumen. This tunic contains the endothelium. The middle tuinic, the tunica media is mostly contained of smooth muscle cells, elastin and collagen fibers. The outermost layer of a blood vessel wall, the tunica externa(adventitia) is composed of loosely woven collagen fibers that protect and reinforce the vessel and anchor it to surrounding structure.

Main post:

As for the biomechanical properties of the vascular tissue, there has been quite a large number of studies done. Some of these studies report inflation-extension types of experiments done on scaffold of adventitia removed from a whole vessel. Others, have just removed out the adventitia and focused on media. The question is :

Is it really possible for all type of vessels to take out adventitia out of the vessel mechanically?

To my knowledge, this seems quite a local and specie dependent property. It looks that in some arteries , such as human femoral arteries, you can easily separate the adventitia from the rest of the vessel. However, according my experiments, it is almost impossible to take it as a whole intact cylinder out from common carotid, femoral, abdominal arteries and Jagular,facial,femoral,abdominal veins of rabbits. As for common carotid of rats, I may say, it may be possible though I had never really done it.

let’s consider that you have done it. Since it is a kind of bulky collagen fibers, it does not seem really impermeable to liquids. Thus, inflating of this layer, even if we can get it from the artery, seems quite a hard job.

Have you ever tried working with adventitia layer separately in inflation-extension tests? I would appreciate as you inform me on the subject.

picture taken from : reference