Scientists at Linköping University in Sweden have developed a revolutionary technology that can heal burns without leaving scars. Dubbed “skin in a syringe,” this innovative approach uses 3D-printed skin transplants made from gel containing live cells.

The study, led by researchers Johan Junker and Daniel Aili, aimed to create new skin that doesn’t become scar tissue but a functioning dermis. The dermis is the thicker layer of skin beneath the epidermis, which contains blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and other essential structures for skin function and elasticity.

To achieve this, the researchers used click chemistry to connect gelatine beads with hyaluronic acid, creating a liquid that can be applied to wounds using a syringe. The gel becomes gel-like again once applied, making it possible to 3D-print the cells in it.

In the current study, small pucks made from this technology were placed under the skin of mice, showing promising results. The cells survived and produced substances needed to create new dermis, with blood vessels forming in the grafts. This breakthrough has significant implications for burn patients, who often suffer from severe scarring due to traditional transplant methods.

The LiU researchers also developed a method to make threads from hydrogels, which can be used to build mini-tubes or perfusable channels. These tubes can be used to pump fluid through or have blood vessel cells grow in them, potentially solving the problem of blood vessel supply in tissue models.

This research has received funding from various organizations, including the Erling-Persson Foundation and the European Research Council (ERC). The study’s findings were published in Advanced Healthcare Materials.

The measurement of blood pressure has been a cornerstone of medical practice for decades. However, despite its widespread use, research suggests that common cuff-based blood pressure readings may be inaccurate and potentially miss up to 30% of hypertension cases.

A team of researchers from the University of Cambridge has shed new light on this issue by building an experimental model that explains the physics behind these inaccuracies. Their findings, reported in the journal PNAS Nexus, have significant implications for patient health outcomes and highlight the need for more accurate measurement methods.

The auscultatory method, which relies on inflating a cuff around the upper arm to measure blood pressure, has long been considered the gold standard. However, this study reveals that it overestimates diastolic pressure while underestimating systolic pressure. The researchers attribute this discrepancy to a previously unidentified factor: the delayed reopening of arteries due to low downstream pressure.

To replicate this condition in their experimental rig, the Cambridge team used tubes that lay flat when deflated and fully closed when inflated with cuff pressure. This setup allowed them to study the effects of downstream blood pressure on artery closure and reopening, leading to a better understanding of the mechanics behind inaccurate readings.

The researchers propose several potential solutions to address this underestimation, including raising the arm before measurement to produce a predictable downstream pressure. This simple change does not require new devices but can make blood pressure measurements more accurate.

If new devices for monitoring blood pressure are developed, they may incorporate additional inputs that correlate with downstream pressure, such as age, BMI, or tissue characteristics, to adjust ‘ideal’ readings for each individual.

The study’s authors emphasize the need for clinical trials to test their findings in patients and collaborate with clinicians to implement changes to clinical practice. Funding from organizations like the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will be essential to support further research and development.

By uncovering the inaccuracies in common blood pressure readings, this study has significant implications for patient health outcomes and highlights the need for more accurate measurement methods. The proposed solutions have the potential to improve diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, ultimately saving lives and reducing healthcare costs.

The article’s core idea is that a single bout of either resistance or high intensity interval training could help in the cancer battle by increasing levels of myokines, a protein produced by muscles which have anti-cancer effects. Here’s the rewritten article:

A groundbreaking study from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has shed light on the potential benefits of exercise for cancer patients. Researchers found that a single bout of either resistance or high intensity interval training could help reduce cancer cell growth by 20 to 30 per cent.

PhD student Mr Francesco Bettariga led the research, which measured myokine levels in breast cancer survivors before, immediately after, and 30 minutes post-exercise. The results showed that both types of exercise increased myokine levels, a protein produced by muscles with anti-cancer effects.

“The results from this study are excellent motivators to add exercise as standard care in the treatment of cancer,” Mr Bettariga said. His research aimed to investigate whether breast cancer survivors would see similar benefits compared to a healthy population, given the impact that cancer treatments and cancer itself often has on the body.

Further research by Mr Bettariga investigated how changes in body composition, following consistent exercise, could impact inflammation, which plays a key role in breast cancer recurrence and mortality. The study found that reducing fat mass and increasing lean mass through exercise could help decrease inflammation, making it a more supportive environment for cancer survivors.

“Strategies are needed to reduce inflammation which may provide a less supportive environment for cancer progression,” Mr Bettariga said. He stressed the importance of consistent exercise, stating that quick fixes to reduce fat mass would not have the same beneficial effects.

“You never want to reduce your weight without exercising, because you need to build or preserve muscle mass and produce these chemicals that you can’t do through just diet alone.” The long-term implications of elevated myokine levels should be further investigated, particularly in relation to cancer recurrence.