3D Virtual Heart to predict sudden Cardiac death risk

Scientists have developed a new non-invasive, personalized 3D virtual heart assessment tool to help doctors determine whether a patient faces a risk of life-threatening arrhythmia. When electrical waves in heart run amok in a condition called arrhythmia, sudden death can occur. To save the life of a patient at risk, doctors currently implant a small defibrillator to sense the onset of arrhythmia and jolt the heart back to a normal rhythm.

However, it is difficult to decide which patients truly need the invasive, costly electrical implant. “Our virtual heart test significantly outperformed several existing clinical metric in predicting future arrhythmic events”, scientists said. This is non-invasive and personalized virtual heart risk assessment could help prevent sudden cardiac deaths and allow patients who are not at risk to avoid unnecessary defibrillator implantations.

Researchers formed its predictions by using the distinctive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) records of patients who had survived a heart attack but were left with damaged cardiac tissue that predisposes the heart to deadly arrhythmias. The study involved data from 41 patients who had survived a heart attack and had an ejection fraction – a measure of how much blood is being pumped out of the heart – of less than 35%.

Researchers used a pre-implant MRI scans of the recipients’ hearts to build patient-specific digital replicas of the organs. Using computer modeling techniques, the geometrical replica of each patient’s heart was brought to life by incorporating representations of the electrical processes in the cardiac cells and the communication among cells.

Kepler mission discovers 1,284 new planets

                In the largest finding of planets to date, Nasa has announced the discovery of 1,284 new planets outside our solar system, more than doubling the number of exoplanets found by the Kepler space telescope. Nine of the newly found planets may be potentially habitable, Nasa said. This give us hope that somewhere out there, around a star much like ours, we can eventually discover another Earth. Analysis was performed on the Kepler space telescope’s July 2015 planet candidate catalogue, which identified 4,302 potential planets. For 1,284 of the candidates, the probability of being a planet is greater than 99% - the minimum required to earn the status “planet”.

Radio Waves may power Smartphones in the future

                Marty Cooper, who built the first mobile phone in 1973, has revealed he is on the board of a company to solve his invention’s battery woes. Keeping your phone charger around is a real annoyance and it’s going to be an increasing problem.  Cooper is involved in Energous, a company that just won approval from US to test feasibility of charging using radio wave. At the moment, Energous uses a miniature transmitter that can power small gadgets like hearing aids using radio waves. Those devices need to be in direct contact with the transmitter to work.

                But Cooper thinks this technology could be revolutionary in the near future, when humans will have to juggle many devices. Steve Rizzone, CEO of Energous, said the next phase for the technology is to launch transmitters that can charge devices a few inches away by 2017 or 2018. The technology has some hurdles. It needs to be embedded in devices to work, which means getting manufacturers on board. Transmitters will need to be deployed for the technology to be useful.

A 'Second Skin' to make wrinkle passe invented

                The idea sounds like fantasy: an invisible film that can be painted on your skin and give it the elasticity of youth. Bags under the eyes vanish in seconds. Wrinkles disappear. Reporting on 9 May, Harvard and MIT researchers said a “second skin” composed of commonly used chemicals deemed safe by the Food and Drug Administration can accomplish that – and so far no one has reported irritation or allergic reactions.

                For under-eye bags, one can soak the film with sunscreen without worrying of sweat or water washing it away, researchers said. They expect it can be used to treat eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions by covering dry itchy patches with a film that moistens and soothes.

                The chemicals used are siloxanes – one atom of oxygen linked to two atoms of silicon – which form polymers, long chains of repeating units. Then they devised a two-step process. First, a polymer, a clear liquid, is applied. Next, a product is applied that links them together. By modifying the chemistry of the chains, the researchers can alter the properties of the second skin, depending on how it will be used. For example, a more permeable second skin might be used for under-eye bags while a less permeable one might hold a medication in place. It can be removed with a solution that dissolves the polymer.

                The idea for second skin originated a decade ago when Dr. R. Rox Anderson, a professor of dermatology at Harvard, was approached by Living Proof, which had been working on a polymer to be used as a hair product. What if there was a way to restore the elastic nature of skin? He thought and listed what would be needed-it has to be nearly invisible, the skin still has to be able to breathe through this stuff, and it needs to be strong and elastic enough that it actually affects the recoil of the skin.

                In one study, participants put second skin on their forearms to see how quickly the skin returned to normal after it was pinched in a suction cup – a test of elasticity. The product’s durability was tested in volunteers who wore it while running in heat and while swimming. Another application of second skin is to keep drugs like cortisone creams on the skin. Less than 10% of what is applied stay there.