New model to better predict risk of abdominal aortic aneurysms
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) can be a ticking time bomb if undiscovered in time. However, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are developing a new model to better predict at-risk patients. And the tools they are using apply mechanical testing to the human body - which is itself a complex machine.
An AAA occurs when the aorta weakens and begins to irreversibly dilate, like a slowly inflating balloon. If left untreated, the risk of rupture increases and has a 90 percent rate of mortality, making AAA the 15th leading cause of death in the United States with more than 15,000 deaths reported annually.
Modeling a better catalyst for PIBSAs eurekalert.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from eurekalert.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Share
Sohail Rana noticed a trend in patients while studying at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. He saw that patients often selected the cheapest treatment options instead of best-quality treatments. “I didn’t feel that was fair for the individual who is really driven to maintain their oral health. I wanted to develop a way where we could catch problems much earlier and make people aware of the dangers of tooth decay,” said Rana, a fourth-year student in the school. Since he started seeing patients during his third year at Pitt, Rana and colleagues have been working on ways for people to practice better oral hygiene habits at home to avoid costly visits to the dentist’s office.
New program could advance translation of research, improve lives of older adults
In this digital age, where the internet accelerates technological development, there has been a surge of scientific innovation designed to improve the quality of life for patients in need. However, there are physical, cognitive, and sensory issues that are often overlooked during the process, resulting in poor design for a particular user group -adults aged 65 and older. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, this group will comprise more than 20 percent of the U.S. population starting in 2030.
Highlighting the importance for safety and efficacy, the U.S. Federal Drug Administration has made incorporating human factors a priority for device approval which can significantly impact the road to commercialization, leaving many researchers stuck in the design phase. Unfortunately, many of these technologies and interventions struggle to advance to commercialization.
18th January 2021 10:03 am 18th January 2021 10:03 am
Bioengineers have shown that a biodegradable magnesium-alloy tracheal stent can successfully help children with paediatric laryngotracheal stenosis – LTS – to breath more easily.
Researchers demonstrate for the first time the successful use of a completely biodegradable magnesium-alloy tracheal stent, pictured, that safely degrades over the course of eight weeks and does not require removal (Image: Materialise)
LTS is a narrowing of the airway in children that can result in a life-threatening emergency if untreated.
Depending on the severity of LTS, doctors will use a combination of endoscopic techniques, surgical repair, tracheostomy, or deployment of stents to hold the airway open and enable breathing.