Tag: Health

Wheelchairs can be controlled by the tiniest head movements. Of the 130 million wheelchair users worldwide, however, some 60% develop an ulcer at some point in their lives. This is caused by the pressure resulting from their remaining in the same position for long periods of time. But a Portuguese startup has developed a digital solution for the problem....

Biodegradable pantyliners are not just good for nature. Bacteria and microbes present in menstrual blood provide information about women’s gynaecological health. Which is why a female founder’s startup in London has developed a new service which makes vaginal infections easier to detect while also enabling personalised treatment plans. Customers buy a special screening kit and input their medical data...

Skin cancer can be treated with a special soap. Peanut allergies are a serious business, too, and a New York-based researcher has been investigating how the body’s tolerance of the snack can be improved. The key, it seems, resides in toothpaste with peanut protein as it can be delivered in controlled doses through the mucous membrane. In a recent...

Curcumin is just as effective as chemical agents against stomach acid and heartburn. That plant-based substances have anti-inflammatory properties is well known. According to a Japanese research team, however, there’s a lot more besides. Over a period of 12 weeks, a group of adults with psychological disorders and memory problems received tablets containing 0.8mg 6-MSITC - a bioactive compound...

A self-dissolving electrode can close open wounds. Plasters with pain-free microneedles do the same. Antibiotics inside them aim to prevent inflammation - but some germs are resistant. How can nature help? The question was posed by Australian researchers experimenting with nanometre-sized particles from black phosphorus. These particles degrade in the presence of oxygen, triggering a chemical reaction which splits...

Those looking to change their diets can turn to seaweed or cream alternatives. But rich food causes more than just bloating or queasiness. In extreme cases of heartburn, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) provide a solution by suppressing the build-up of stomach acid, shielding the oesophagus and intestinal tract from harm. However, they also reduce the body’s intake of nutrients...

Innovative pacemakers are controlled by patients’ individual breathing patterns. Breathing exercises can help control stress and alleviate anxiety. Provided that our brains don’t become distracted from the task at hand. Which is where a British PhD student from the University of Bath comes in. His hand-held soft ball is connected to sensors attached to a user’s body, imitating their...

Tap water can be made lead-free using a simple filter. Now, an Estonian startup has developed a wearable solution for those with allergies triggered by substances in the air. The team’s 300g device is worn around the neck. Mini ventilators on the bottom absorb air, and 99.9% of pet hair, pollen, dust or mould contained within is captured by...