Whenever people hear of 3D printing, they automatically think of tools or robots that have to do with science. However, the technology is incredibly useful in the field of medicine as well. A team of researchers from Newcastle University, UK, have just produced the first 3D printed cornea. By using it, we might soon be able to prevent people from going blind or treat eye conditions through easier procedures.

What happens if you damage your cornea?

The cornea is that outer lens of the eye that regulates the amount of light the organ gets. Therefore, damaging it through burns, accidents, or even through diseases can really impair our visual capacities. In some cases, an ill cornea can lead to complete blindness.

Unfortunately, the procedure to treat such illnesses is quite complicated. People who suffer from it need a corneal transplant, and there aren’t too many donors around. Some of the transplants might come from dead people, but this still doesn’t fulfill the need for organ donations.

The 3D printed cornea is both soft and sturdy to stay in place

Therefore, the achievement of the English researchers is truly amazing. To produce the 3D printed cornea, they used a special material called bio-ink. By laying the material in circular shapes, they obtained a corneal matrix. To make the 3D printed cornea functional, they applied stem cells on this matrix. Once they are done growing, the cornea is ready for a transplant.

This isn’t the first attempt to produce a 3D printed cornea. So far, researchers have been looking for the ideal materials to produce this bio-ink, as none of those they used could sustain the stem cells. Another challenge was to get a final product that was both soft and sturdy. However, using collagen and alginate proved to be the best combination.

Cornea transplants aren’t too complicated, since the organ has no blood vessels. Therefore, a new outer lens on the ocular globe has fewer chances to be rejected than other organs. The study on this remarkable 3D printed cornea was published in the journal Experimental Eye Research.

Image source: Pixabay

Whenever you see a person wearing glasses, you might automatically regard them as more intelligent, but this sounds rather stereotypical. A recent research has just proved this conviction is right, since glass wearers are actually more intelligent than other people. The study also offered a deep insight into the genes that influence these cognitive traits.

Glass wearers really tend to be more intelligent

A team of researchers from the University of Edinburgh wanted to see if glass wearers sport some genetic differences. This way, they selected a number of 44,480 people and took a close look at their genes. This way, they found some interesting connections between their features and their visual capacities.

Those people who scored higher in terms of intelligence had 30 percent more chances to be glass wearers. On the contrary, those with poorer scores in terms of IQ didn’t really need a pair of glasses to be able to read. The study also revealed some other encouraging things about intelligent people.

The study was the first complex analysis of intelligence

This research was the first one to take a close look at intelligence traits and other genetic features related to them. Apart from glass wearing, intelligence seems to influence other genes as well. Smart people seem to have some other genes that influence heart health in the positive sense.

The study was so complex since it looked at a number of 148 genes related to cognitive abilities. From all these 148, 58 haven’t been studied before, so the results really bring a new perspective on the matter. If researchers keep exploring these connections, they might find out why a person’s cognitive performance drops as they reach a certain age.

However, the study was rather observational. Therefore, not all glass wearers are automatically intelligent or have a great cardiovascular health. What the study did was offer a better perspective on the genetic traits of intelligence and how one might inherit them. This paper was published in the journal Nature Communications.

Image source: Pixnio

A recent study developed by the European Society of Cardiology has found a possible solution for patients with heart failure to increase their life expectancy. It turns out the quantity of protein they consume can have a great impact on their health. More precisely, they might live more if they increase their protein intake.

A bigger protein intake is beneficial for the health

For this research, scientists looked at 2,281 patients who had suffered heart failure. These participants came from 11 countries in Europe and had an average age of 68. The main idea of the study was to look at their protein intake and the state of their heart health.

There is some scientific evidence in favor of a high protein intake. These nutrients are beneficial for our muscles, as they get stronger while aging gets slower. However, older people are often misled in eating less proteins. To convince them to eat more, researchers decided to look at the connection between these nutrients and heart health.

Eating more proteins increases the life expectancy after heart failure

Therefore, they measured the protein intake of these people who had suffered from heart failure. After a period of follow-up, they returned for new observations, and made some interesting discoveries. About 31 percent of those people who consumed few proteins had died. In contrast, only 18 percent of the group with high protein intake had died.

Researchers couldn’t tell where this connection came from. The study was merely observational, but they assumed this must be a direct result of proteins building muscle mass. Before moving on, researchers need to perform some more research. More precisely, they need a control group to identify the ideal protein intake for patients with heart failure.

Here is what you need to know if you want to stay healthy. Foods like meat, eggs, beans, nuts, or peanut butter are great sources of protein. Usually, consuming a bit of them all should build a portion of proteins. People older than 50 should consume about seven portions of proteins per day, which is about 200 g.

The study in question was presented during the Heart Failure conference in Vienna, Austria.

Image source: PxHere

People are trying all kinds of techniques to quit smoking, but they aren’t all as effective. This is why a team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have decided to test some of these smoking cessation methods and see which one actually works. The news isn’t too encouraging for smokers who are trying to quit, as what worked best was to give them money.

What smoking cessation method works best?

There are many debates on what works whenever you are trying to give up smoking. Some methods might be good for some people, while others aren’t as effective. However, if you’re trying to quit and don’t know where to start, researchers decided to give you a helping hand. This way, they selected five methods of smoking cessation and started testing them.

So far, people have been counting on vaping as the best way to give up smoking. However, this study revealed there is something that is a lot more effective. It turns out nothing can get smokers to quit like paying them to do it. There is still one thing you need to keep in mind. Researchers tested the methods on people who hadn’t been planning to give up smoking.

Paying people to quit smoking is the most effective

For the study, researchers selected 6,000 smokers. Then, they sent them an email and said they were selected for a special project that should get them to quit smoking. Afterwards, they split them into five groups, one for each smoking cessation method.

The first one sent them texts and other informative emails on the disadvantages of smoking. Then, the other received nicotine gum and patches, while the third group got e-cigarettes. The fourth and the fifth method were the most interesting.

One of the groups was promised $600 in cash if they quit for six months, while the other received the same sum but in a bank deposit. Also, researchers threatened the latter they would take the money back if they started smoking again. Of course, both of these groups received some free items to help them quit.

The study was quite tough, since they took blood and urine samples from the participants even after six months. This way, they could see if they really quit smoking. The most successful method was the last one, with 12.7 percent of people who successfully kicked the habit. These findings are really interesting, as they show what motivates people the most when it comes to overcoming addiction.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

If you compare the human brain with that of other animals, you will see it is significantly bigger. For quite a long time, researchers have been debating the origin of its size and of human intelligence and offered mainly social explanations. Now, a scientific team from St. Andrews University in Scotland came up with a new explanation. There might have been ecological factors like difficulties in finding food and harsh weather that prompted the human brain to evolve.

Why is the human brain bigger than that of other animals?

As the first early humans emerged, they also evolved a brain that had about triple the size of that of Australopithecus afarensis, one of our ancestors. Scientists regarded this change as really interesting and started debating on possible causes for it. They offered three hypotheses: the changes have been driven by social factors, the environment played a role in it, or the human brain evolved as we started eating meat.

Of course, given the intelligence of humans, scientists preferred the social explanation and said our brain got bigger when we faced social challenges. However, there were others who were a bit more skeptical, so Scottish researchers decided to find the truth. To do it, they ran a few mathematical simulations of how the human brain evolved throughout millions of years.

A harsh environment is the biggest contribution to a bigger brain

They took all three hypotheses into consideration and discovered more factors that prompted the growth. Whenever individuals face harsh environmental conditions and are exposed to conflict but also to cooperation, they start developing their brain. However, only one of these has a main contribution, and that is the environmental factor.

When the early humans started migrating further away from the equator, they had to face less friendly conditions. The weather got less warm, and they suddenly found less food than before. As a result, the human brain started increasing in size. However, there was one condition for the brain to get bigger. Each individual need to acquire new skills and improve its capacity throughout their young years.

The study on the wonders of the human brain was published in the journal Nature.

Image source: Flickr

Summer is coming, so we now have to get ready to face the sun and avoid getting our skin burnt. A recent incident should make us even more careful, as the FDA has issued a warning against the so-called sunscreen pills. Apparently, there are plenty of marketers that are misleading people by selling such pills which don’t really protect the skin against powerful sunrays.

Are there any sunscreen pills?

When it comes to staying protected when you go sunbathing, the first thing to think about is sunscreen lotion. The bad thing about it is you need to apply it regularly and it still guarantees you won’t get a sunburn. However, this is still the most effective way to stay protected.

Recently, a few manufacturers brought some miraculous products on the market claiming to replace these lotions. The products were nothing more than sunscreen pills and should exert the same effect on the skin as the lotion. However, the FDA intervened quickly.

The FDA blamed the companies for misleading their customers

The main FDA commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, immediately blamed these manufacturers. These sunscreen pills need to be ingested, so it means they fit the drug category. This means they need an FDA approval to go on the market, and the association has not given any of the kind. Therefore, it means the pill is not effective, so you shouldn’t use it to replace sunscreen.

The FDA even revealed the name of the companies that manufactured these sunscreen pills. These are Sunsafe Rx, Solaricare, Advanced Skin Brightening Formula, and Sunergetic. All of them received special warning letters from the FDA where they were accused of deceiving people. There are no dietary supplements or drugs that can protect the skin from getting sunburnt, and this will never be possible.

Before they can sell their products again, these companies need to perform a thorough review of their labels and specifications. None of the claims should be false, or they risk punishments according to federal law.

Image source: Public Domain Pictures

Dating apps like Tinder are some of the biggest trends among young people, as they disguise themselves as ways of looking for a partner. This is why researchers decided to investigate the real reason why people use such apps. It turns out women are actually looking for someone to tell them they are attractive, while men are more interested in casual sex.

Why do people use Tinder?

Dating apps should be a way to help people find a partner they have always been dreaming about. While some people might be using Tinder to find their soulmate, most users are actually looking for something else. They get the chance to choose from a series of people the ones they find most attractive and then talk to them if the other person has also swiped right.

Seeing that you get many matches is quite a good thing for self esteem. However, this thing seems to appeal to women more than it does to men. More precisely, women are a lot more likely to use Tinder just to get a confirmation they are attractive and have a better opinion on themselves.

Not everyone is actually looking for a long-term partner

On the other hand, men have a different attitude whenever they log in on Tinder. Men in general who enjoy using dating apps seem to be more interested in short-term affairs and casual sex. However, it doesn’t mean people don’t also look for long-term things. Both men and women can be looking for a soulmate on Tinder, but the percentages are much lower. In terms of men, for instance, they are a lot more likely to be looking for something casual.

When it comes to the time they spend on Tinder, women are on top of the list. However, men are more on point when they use the dating app. They usually find a person they like a lot quicker, and them move swiftly and decide if they want to see that person or not. This usually happens because they are more likely to start a conversation than women.

Therefore, not everyone is really dreaming of finding “the one” on Tinder. Swiping right might be a fun activity that increases women’s self esteem while, for men, it offers dozens of opportunities for short-term affairs.

Image source: Flickr

A recent study has revealed a worrying situation among the American teenagers. It turns out suicide attempts are now more common among them. Researchers from Vanderbilt University reached this conclusion after looking at the number of teens who ended up in the hospital after trying to take their own lives. Since 2008, their percentage has more than doubled.

Suicide attempts are a lot more common now than they were ten years ago

Suicide attempts have always been quite common among teenagers. In fact, in US, it occupies the third place in the top of leading causes of death. The figures from 2013 show a number of 41,149 suicide cases. For 100,000 people, they occurred at a rate of 12.6, which is quite a lot.

To see how severe suicide attempts have become, researchers took a look at the data collected by the Pediatric Health Information System. The data concerned children aged between 5 and 17 and, apart from suicide attempts, they also looked at the levels of suicidal ideation. This is a common medical term used to describe suicidal thoughts.

Older teenagers and girls are the most likely to attempt suicide

The data also came from 31 hospitals especially destined for children. This way, they identified 115,000 suicide attempts that were addressed at the emergency departments of these hospitals. While the suicide rate was 0.66 in 2008, it reached 1.82 in 2015.

Of course, there are certain groups that are a lot more affected than others. Teenagers between 15 and 17 are most likely to try to take their own lives, while girls are a lot more affected than boys. Some cases also occur between the ages of 12 and 14, 37 percent more precisely. Among the youngest children, suicidal tendencies are the rarest, with only 13 percent.

If you want to be more careful with your children, pay attention during spring and fall. The research showed teens were more likely to attempt suicide during these seasons, while summer is the most peaceful of all. Probably, this happens because these seasons coincide with a lot of stress and pressure coming from schools.

The study was published in the journal Pediatrics.

Image source: Pixabay

The polycystic ovarian syndrome (or PCOS) is one of the most complex disorders that could affect the female reproductive system. Those who suffer from it exhibit a series of unpleasant symptoms and usually battle with infertility, but there isn’t a permanent cure for it. While researchers have always been wondering where it came from, they might have finally found an answer that could lead to a better treatment.

What is PCOS?

Women who suffer from PCOS have their ovaries covered in small cysts filled with fluids. Those who suffer from the condition experience unpleasant symptoms like severe pelvic pain, weight gain, excessive hair growth or thinning of hair, hormonal issues, or even infertility. The percentage of women who have the syndrome can vary from 8 to 20 percent, and it can cause a series of other issues.

One can detect the condition by spotting high levels of one specific male hormone, androgen, in the patients. If left untreated, the disease might be a starting point for diabetes, but there’s actually no cure for it. PCOS is extremely complex and, so far, researchers couldn’t explain any cause for it.

PCOS might be linked to high levels of a specific hormone

However, a team of researchers from France developed a study that might be a breakthrough for the treatment of PCOS. They discovered that pregnant women with the condition have high levels of a specific hormone in their blood. This hormone, called anti-Müllerian, is produced by the ovarian follicles, and is a good fertility sign.

This is the first time when researchers realized there was a connection between the anti-Müllerian hormone and PCOS. They tested their hypothesis in mice, and discovered that higher levels of the hormone led to the newborns developing the syndrome. It seems this specific hormonal imbalance increased the levels of male hormones in female babies.

Researchers also found a possible cure for PCOS. They injected the mice with a common fertility drug called cetrorelix. While it prevents the egg from releasing too soon, it reduced the symptoms of the disorder in mice. However, researchers still need to perform some studies before finding the optimal treatment for humans.

The study was published in the journal Nature.

Image source: Pixabay

A man from Australia has just retired from donating blood after saving the lives of about 2.4 million babies. Nicknamed the man with the golden arm, James Harrison has been giving blood once every week or every two weeks for almost 60 years. He is 81 years old now and thought it was time to stop, but he couldn’t contain his immense sadness as he donated his last drop of blood.

The man with the golden arm had an interesting blood condition

James Harrison admits to having been extremely afraid of needles until he made his first donation and saved his first life. This happened in the 1960s, when some doctors made an interesting discovery regarding his blood. They found out his blood type could prevent a dangerous condition spread among babies.

The condition in question is called hemolytic disease and can turn regular anemia into a fatal disease. Interestingly enough, Harrison’s blood contained an antibody that issued a protective effect on babies who suffered from this condition. This is how he turned into the man with the golden arm.

He contributed to the development of the Anti-D medication

Throughout these almost 60 years, Harrison donated blood 1,173 times. 1,163 of the donations came from his right arm, while only 10 came from his left. This way, doctors could use the antibody in his blood to produce a special medication called Anti-D.

Whenever a mother with an Rh negative blood has a baby with Rh positive, a strange reaction occurs. The mother’s blood regards the baby’s blood as a threat, so it tries to get rid of it. This is how the hemolytic disease appears. However, Harrison has Rh positive antibodies in his Rh negative blood, which can become really helpful for the babies.

After thousands of successful donations and millions of lives saved, the time has come for the man with the golden arm to retire. He is extremely sad this is happening and said he would have continued donating if doctors had allowed him.

Image source: Buckley Air Force Base