Despite the lack of organs available for patients on transplant waitlists, organs from older, deceased donors are frequently thrown away. But a new study suggests organs from elderly donors can be ‘rejuvenated’ by making them ‘younger.’ Researchers say anti-aging drugs can ‘turn back the clock’ on hearts, livers, kidneys and lungs by getting rid of … Read more
A new ‘cyborg-like’ technology has been developed to safely merge electronic devices with human tissue to better monitor health and track tumours. Scientists from the University of Delaware found a way to attach devices inside a human body by connecting it to tissue using a coating that is more energy efficient. Connecting electronics to tissue … Read more
Microplastic pollution has been found in human organs — with scientists fearing the tiny particles could increase the risk of infertility and cancer — a study has reported. Experts from the Arizona State University are the first to show that the tiny plastic particles — which form when larger plastics break down — can enter … Read more
Why does coronavirus attack some organs and not others? Study suggests COVID-19 infection in the lungs makes the heart and brain more vulnerable – but the stomach is not affected Researchers looked at proteins in the lungs and how they interact with proteins the virus uses to infect cells They found 59 lung proteins, which … Read more
Meet the ‘inside-out’ little girl who was born with her stomach, liver and bowel on the oustide of her body. Laurel Phizacklea, two, from Cambridge, wasn’t expected to survive birth and her parents, Kelly, 30, and Sean, 34, were offered a termination at their 12-week scan when doctors diagnosed their unborn child with a major … Read more
A Florida widow has donated a kidney to the man who received her late husband’s organs 16 years ago. In 2004, roofer Bryan Herrington, 35, lost his life after he tragically fell from a house he was working on. His organs went to four people, including Jeffery ‘Jeff’ Granger who received Bryan’s kidney and his … Read more
The vast majority of the tens of thousands of patients in the UK who have tested positive for Covid-19 will be counting their lucky stars that they have had only a mild encounter with the deadly virus — but they may not be able to relax just yet. There is growing evidence from China, where … Read more
Organ donation is one of those subjects most of us push to the back of our minds. Whenever I’ve seen a stack of donor cards on the pharmacy counter, I’ve thought, yes, I must get round to signing one of those. You never know when you might fall under a bus or suddenly drop dead … Read more
A mother-of-five lived for 99 years with a ‘totally backwards’ body, doctors have revealed. Rose Marie Bentley, from Molalla in northwest Oregon, was discovered to have situs inversus with levocardia. This caused her liver, stomach and pancreas to develop on her right side rather than in their normal more ‘left’ position. Mrs Bentley was oblivious … Read more
NASA astronauts have started growing human cells aboard the International Space Station to help understand the production of human tissue in low gravity. 250 test tubes containing adult human stem cells were sent aboard the SpaceX CRS-20 resupply mission that arrived at the ISS this week. Scientists say that due to the weightlessness on board … Read more