Scientists Create World's First 3D-Printed Heart Using Patient's Own Cells
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have successfully printed the
world’s first 3D heart using a patient’s own cells and biological
materials to “completely match the immunological, cellular, biochemical,
and anatomical properties of the patient.”
Until now, researchers have only been able to 3D-print simple tissues lacking blood vessels. "This heart is made from human cells and patient-specific biological
materials. In our process these materials serve as the bioinks,
substances made of sugars and proteins that can be used for 3D printing
of complex tissue models," said lead researcher in a statement.
"People have managed to 3D-print the structure of a heart in the past,
but not with cells or with blood vessels. Our results demonstrate the
potential of our approach for engineering personalized tissue and organ
replacement in the future." F,
G) A printed heart within a support bath. H) After extraction, the left
and right ventricles were injected with red and blue dyes,
respectively, in order to demonstrate hollow chambers and the septum
in‐between them. Describing their work, the research team started by taking biopsies of fatty tissues from abdominal structures known as the omentum in
both humans and pigs. The tissue's cellular materials were separated
from those that weren’t and reprogrammed to become pluripotent stem
cells, “master cells”
able to make cells from all three body layers with the potential to
produce any cell or tissue in the body. The team then made the extracellular matrix
– made up of collagen and glycoproteins – into a hydrogel used as the
printing “ink”. Cells were mixed with the hydrogel and then
differentiated into cardiac or endothelial cells (those that line the
interior surface of blood and lymphatic vessels) to create
patient-specific, immune-compatible cardiac patches complete with blood
vessels and, ultimately, an entire heart bioengineered from “native”
patient-specific materials.
Though promising, the team is quick to remind us that their hearts are not yet ready for human transplantation.
"At this stage, our 3D heart is small, the size of a rabbit's heart,"
said the researcher. "But larger human hearts require the same technology."
For starters, creating a human heart would take much longer and
require billions of cells – not just millions. Furthermore, the
cherry-sized hearts don’t necessarily behave like hearts, requiring
researchers to further develop and “train” them to be like human hearts
and form a pumping ability. Currently, the cells can contract but do not
work together.
Regardless, the development is a massive step for the advancement of organ transplantation. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and women in the US, with heart transplants being the only
treatment available to those with end-stage heart failure. Not only does
a shortage of donors require the development of new strategies, but
creating hearts that jive with a patient’s unique biological makeup
could prevent the risk of rejection.
"The biocompatibility of engineered materials is crucial to
eliminating the risk of implant rejection, which jeopardizes the success
of such treatments," said the researcher. "Ideally, the biomaterial should
possess the same biochemical, mechanical and topographical properties of
the patient's own tissues. Here, we can report a simple approach to
3D-printed thick, vascularized and perfusable cardiac tissues that
completely match the immunological, cellular, biochemical and anatomical
properties of the patient." After “training” the hearts to efficiently pump, the team hopes to transplant them into animals for further testing. Cells
from a patient's omentum tissue are separated and processed into a
personalized thermoresponsive hydrogel. The cells are reprogrammed to
become pluripotent and are then differentiated to cardiomyocytes and
endothelial cells before encapsulation within the hydrogel to generate
the bioinks used for printing. The bioinks are then printed to engineer
vascularized patches and complex cellularized structures.
THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE
HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.
PS-
THOSE INTERESTED IN
RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/
FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE
REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-
https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/
FOR
CROCHET DESIGNS
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com
Find out the cause of your snoring before you opt for a quick fix from our guide
While nearly half of all middle-aged men snore, it's not solely a male
problem. It affects women too, particularly after menopause.
The key, say sleep specialists, is to work out what type of snorer you
are before buying devices and opting for remedies. Here's our guide:
Being overweight
Weight gain is linked to a host of health problems and is a main
trigger for snoring in men because, unlike women, they tend to put on
weight around their necks.
The fatty tissue around your neck
squeezes the airway and prevents air from flowing in and out freely when
sleeping. The airway is more likely to vibrate, say doctors.
Solution: Lose weight sensibly through diet and exercise.
Alcohol alert
Alcohol is a sedative and depressant so it relaxes you. The downside is
that is can cause the muscles in the back of the throat to collapse —
another key cause of snoring.
Sleeping pills and sedative medication, such as antihistamines, also produce a similar effect.
Solution: Reduce your alcohol intake. Have your last drink at least four hours before you go to bed.
Kick the butt
Smokers are approximately twice as likely to snore as non-smokers, say
studies. Cigarette smoke irritates the lining of the nasal cavity and
throat, causing swelling and catarrh. The resulting congestion of nasal
passages makes it difficult to breathe through your nose. Passive
smokers also run the risk of snoring.
Solution: Quit! Or try to have your last cigarette at least four hours before bed to reduce the effects of the smoke.
Sleeping position
If you sleep on your back, you are more likely to snore because of the
effects of gravity on the upper airway. This happens since the tongue
and soft palate fall back into the throat, narrowing the airway.
Solution: Sleep
on your side. A mandibular advancement device is more beneficial for
this kind of snorer. These are mouthpieces that hold the lower jaw and
tongue forward, making more space to breathe.
Another option is
a shaped pillow which puts your head in a slightly tilted position and
opens the airway at the back of the throat.
Allergies
Allergies, such as hay fever can cause nasal congestion, contribute to
snoring and affect sleep quality. Swelling in the lining of the nose and
throat affects breathing through the nasal airway — particularly at
night.
Solution: Treat the allergy.
Mouth breathing If you usually sleep through the night with your mouth open — you probably snore, suggest experts.
When we breathe in through the nose, the air passes over the curved
part of the soft palate in a gentle flow into the throat without
creating unnecessary turbulence. But, when we breathe in through the
mouth, the air hits the back of the throat 'head on' and can create
enormous vibrations in the soft tissue.
Solution: Try mouth breathing devices that prevent the mouth from falling open.
Small nostrils Small or "collapsing" nostrils make it harder to breathe through the nose when sleeping.
This means you're breathing through your mouth — and will snore.
Solution: Wearing nasal dilators can help. This is a springy, flexible
plastic device that "holds" the nostrils open.
Tongue base snorer
If you've been a heavy snorer for some time, damage to the nerves and
muscles of the upper airway mean they're more prone to collapse.
This restricts the airway and vibrates the tissue of the tongue, causing it to block the airway.
Solution: Clinical studies show that a mandibular advancement device can help keep the tongue away from the back of the throat.
PS-
THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE
HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.
PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-
HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-
HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/ FOR CROCHET DESIGNS HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM
