Category Biology/Biotechnology

Deep brain stimulation to the medial forebrain bundle for depression- long-term outcomes and a novel data analysis strategy. Brain Stimulation, 2017; DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2017.01.581

Treatment with deep brain stimulation can provide lasting relief to patients suffering from previously non-treatable, severe forms of depression several years into the therapy or even eliminate symptoms entirely. This is the finding of the first long-term study on this form of therapy, conducted by scientists at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg. 7 of 8 patients receiving continuous stimulation in the study showed lasting improvements in their symptoms up to the last observation point 4 years into treatment. The therapy remained equally effective over the entire period...

Assistant Professor Tan Swee Ching (left), Mr Sai Kishore Ravi (right) and their team from the National University of Singapore’s Faculty of Engineering has developed a novel nanofibre solution that creates thin, see-through air filters (held by Mr Sai) that can remove up to 90 per cent of PM2.5 particles and achieve 2.5 times better air flow than conventional air filters. Credit: Image courtesy of National University of Singapore

A team from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has successfully concocted a novel nanofibre solution that creates thin, see-through air filters that can remove up to 90% of PM2.5 particles and achieve high air flow of 2.5 times better than conventional air filters...

An international study of 3,396 patients with venous thromboembolism in 31 countries shows that the blood thinner rivaroxaban is just as safe as aspirin and more effective at preventing blood clots. CREDIT The Ottawa Hospital

An international research team has found that rivaroxaban is as safe as aspirin, and more effective at preventing recurrence of life-threatening blood clots in the legs and lungs, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. At least 1 out of 1,000 Canadians will experience one of these blood clots every year, a condition called venous thromboembolism. The clots can be deadly if they travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism), and are the third most common cardiovascular cause of death after heart attack and stroke.

Venous thromboembolism is a ...

NUS researchers found that regular consumption of tea brewed from tea leaves reduces elderly persons’ risk of cognitive decline

Tea drinking reduces the risk of cognitive impairment in older persons by 50% and as much as 86% for those who are genetically at risk of Alzheimer’s. A cup of tea a day can keep dementia away, and this is especially so for those who are genetically predisposed to the debilitating disease, according to a recent study led by Assistant Professor Feng Lei from the Department of Psychological Medicine at National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.

The longitudinal study involving 957 Chinese seniors aged 55 years or older has found that regular consumption of tea lowers the risk of cognitive decline in the elderly by 50 per cent, while ...