Snails schooling scientists about memories and brain disorders
Reading Time: 2 minutesScientists are taking lessons about quick thinking, reversing brain trauma, and slowing down brain degeneration from an unexpected neurological wonder. Snails are efficient in thinking and a lot smarter than you think. Despite the snail’s ultra-simplified brain structure, this tiny creature uses only two brain cells to compute two scenarios: when the creature is hungry […]
Natural tooth repair method using Alzheimer’s drug
Reading Time: 2 minutesA TEAM of researchers at King’s College London has proven new method of stimulating the renewal of living stem cells in tooth pulp using an Alzheimer’s drug, called Tideglusib. Developed for and trialled to treat Alzheimer’s disease, scientists found the drug also happens to promote the natural tooth regrowth mechanism in mice, allowing the tooth […]
Decoding the axolotl genome – A new hope for regenerative medicine?
Reading Time: 3 minutesBY ANDREJA GREGORIC A TEAM of researchers decoded the entire genetic information of the salamander axolotl. It is the largest genome ever to be sequenced. The “Mexican walking fish” could provide us with the foundation for novel insights into human tissue regeneration capacities. This extraordinary amphibian, Ambystoma mexicanu does not undergo metamorphosis but rather keeps […]
Researchers discover powerful antibiotic in soil
Reading Time: 2 minutesIT’S a new class of antibiotic that promises to live up to its rough Latin translation: killer of bad guys. In a report published this week in the journal Nature Microbiology, researchers describe a neverbefore- seen antibiotic agent that vanquished several strains of multidrug- resistant bacteria. In rats, the agent — which the researchers dubbed […]
Scientists develop biocompatible anti-burn nanofiber bandage
Reading Time: 2 minutesA GROUP of National University of Science and Technology MISiS (NUST MISIS)’s young scientists, for the very first time in Russia, has presented a new therapeutic material based on nanofibers made of polycaprolactone modified with a thin-film antibacterial composition and plasma components of human blood. Biodegradable bandages made from these fibers will accelerate the growth […]
M’sian don gets OBE from QE II
Reading Time: 2 minutesTEO SOO-HWANG, Chief Executive Officer for Cancer Research Malaysia has been awarded an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) from HM Queen Elizabeth II for services to medical research. The Cambridge University graduate was the only Malaysian among 221 Honorary OBE recipients in the 2018 New Year’s Honours List, […]
UKMMC launch world’s smallest CPAP machine
Reading Time: < 1 minuteBY ASMAHANIM AMIR CHERAS: Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) through the Department of Otorinolaryngology (ENT) launched the World’s Smallest Air Mini Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Machine, recently. The machine weighing 300 grams is lauded as the most effective device for treating the Obstructive Sleep Appnoe (OSA) or sleep […]
Supercharged antibiotics could turn tide against superbugs
Reading Time: 2 minutesAN OLD drug supercharged by University of Queensland researchers has emerged as a new antibiotic that could destroy some of the world’s most dangerous superbugs. The supercharge technique, led by Dr Mark Blaskovich and Prof Matt Cooper from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), potentially could revitalise other antibiotics. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria – superbugs -cause 700,000 […]
UKM, the first in Malaysia to produce artificial kidneys
Reading Time: < 1 minuteBY ASMAHANIM AMIR Universitu Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) will emerge as the first university in Malaysia to produce artificial kidneys as an initiative to help treat kidney failure patients. Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronic (IMEN) Director, Prof Dato’ Dr Burhanuddin Yeop Majlis said the research which involves researchers from IMEN and UKM Medical Centre began in […]
sKan-ning skin cancer earlier and cheaper
Reading Time: 3 minutesBY SHAWN KENG IT started as a final year engineering project. A team of four Canadian graduate students at McMaster University in Canada developed a simple yet practical skin cancer sensor. This prototype device named “sKan” differentiates a harmless skin spot and a cancerous pigment on your skin. This prototype has huge potential to help […]