The article discusses a groundbreaking study that demonstrates the potential for a small walking adjustment to delay knee surgery for years. Researchers from the University of Utah, New York University, and Stanford University conducted a year-long randomized control trial that showed participants who made a small adjustment to the angle of their foot while walking experienced pain relief equivalent to medication. Critically, those participants also showed less knee cartilage degradation over that period as compared to a group that received a placebo treatment.

The study, published in The Lancet Rheumatology, was co-led by Scott Uhlrich of Utah’s John and Marcia Price College of Engineering. The researchers specifically looked at patients with mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis in the medial compartment of the knee, which tends to bear more weight than the lateral compartment. This form of osteoarthritis is the most common, but the ideal foot angle for reducing load in the medial side of the knee differs from person to person depending on their natural gait and how it changes when they adopt the new walking pattern.

The researchers used a personalized approach to selecting each individual’s new walking pattern, which improved how much individuals could offload their knee and likely contributed to the positive effect on pain and cartilage that they saw. In the first two visits, participants received a baseline MRI and practiced walking on a pressure-sensitive treadmill while motion-capture cameras recorded the mechanics of their gait.

This allowed the researchers to determine whether turning the patient’s toe inward or outward would reduce load more, and whether a 5° or 10° adjustment would be ideal. The personalized analysis also screened out potential participants who could not benefit from the intervention, as none of the foot angle changes could decrease loading in their knees.

The study found that participants in the intervention group reported a significant decrease in pain over the placebo group, which was comparable to what would be expected from an over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen or a narcotic like oxycontin. The MRIs also showed slower degradation of knee cartilage health in the intervention group.

Beyond the quantitative measures of effectiveness, participants expressed enthusiasm for both the approach and the results. One participant said they were thrilled with their new gait, which would be with them for the rest of their days.

The researchers believe that this intervention could help fill the large treatment gap for people with osteoarthritis, who may experience decades of pain management before being recommended for a joint replacement. The study’s findings have significant implications for the treatment and management of knee osteoarthritis, and future studies are needed to further develop and refine this approach.

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.