Health
Getting under your skin for better health
Researchers say interstitial fluid could replace blood to monitor health and wellness
Newswise — The next frontier of continuous health monitoring could be skin deep.
Biomedical engineers at the University of Cincinnati say interstitial fluid, the watery fluid found between and around cells, tissues or organs in the body, could provide an excellent medium for early disease diagnosis or long-term health monitoring.
A prototype of a device that can measure interstitial fluid uses microneedles.
« Getting under your skin for better health
In a paper published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, they outlined the potential advantages and technological challenges of using interstitial fluid.
“Why we see it as a valuable diagnostic fluid is continuous access. With blood, you can’t easily take continuous readings,” said UC doctoral graduate Mark Friedel, co-lead author of the study.
“Can you imagine going about your day with a needle stuck in your vein all day? So we need other tools.”
Researchers are looking for alternatives to monitor a person’s health and wellness. Sweat is a good medium for measuring certain things like stress or anxiety because it contains hormones such as cortisol. But the body is stingy with other chemicals that are not so easily released in sweat, Friedel said.
“Sweat glands are big filters that don’t allow everything to pass through,” he said. “So more than half of the things we want to monitor have no access to sweat at all.”
Blood is the gold standard for health monitoring. But people also have liters of interstitial fluid that make up as much as 15% of their body weight.
“The key feature of blood that makes it so advantageous is we understand blood really well,” Friedel said. “If you have something in your blood, we know what will happen to your heart or your liver,” he said.
Researchers said interstitial fluid contains many of the same chemicals in the same proportions as blood, offering a potential alternative to costly and time-consuming lab work.
The study outlined the various ways doctors can sample interstitial fluid, from applying suction to the skin to deploying microdialysis.
“As biomedical engineers, one of our greatest goals is to help people better manage their health by making diagnostics more accessible,” said co-lead author Ian Thompson at Stanford University.
“A big barrier to this accessibility is that most current diagnostics rely on blood sampling, which can be painful and requires trained personnel to perform. Thus, in recent years there has been growing interest in using interstitial fluid just under the skin as a diagnostic sample that is more accessible and less painful to extract.”
In UC College of Engineering and Applied Science professor Jason Heikenfeld’s Novel Devices Lab, students are developing sensors to measure hormones and other chemicals in interstitial fluid. They use microneedles less than 1 millimeter in length that pierce the skin through a tiny patch.
“If you had a splinter, it probably went deeper into your skin than our microneedles,” Friedel said. “They’re generally painless. I don’t feel it most of the time. The most uncomfortable part is removing the tape that holds the device down.”
But even if you don’t know it’s there, your body does, Friedel said. And this minute reaction can affect the test results.
“There’s a Schrödinger’s observer effect with interstitial fluid. Any time you try to collect and measure it, you inherently change the fluid itself,” Friedel said. “If you stick a needle in your skin, your body becomes inflamed and then your [sample] levels change. For continuous biomonitoring, we want to know those concentrations as they are when you’re not being poked with a tiny needle.
“That’s why it’s such a challenging fluid that hasn’t been used outside of diabetes monitoring.”
Still, researchers say, interstitial fluid holds enormous promise for monitoring health through wearable technology. This could help doctors track the efficacy of drugs to ensure proper dosage or provide early diagnosis of illness by monitoring the immune system.
But Friedel said there is still a lot to learn.
“We’re trying to unlock the box and read the instructions inside to understand what’s in interstitial fluid and what the potentials are for exploiting it,” he said.
Friedel and Thompson worked with co-author Heikenfeld, UC’s James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, the Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico and Southeast Missouri State University.
The study was funded through grants from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the U.S. Office of Naval Research.
Journal Link: Nature Biomedical Engineering
Source: University of Cincinnati
(Family Features) Si tiene asma, sabe que los síntomas pueden aparecer rápidamente y luego empeorar.
Los factores que impulsan este desarrollo se llaman desencadenantes. Una parte importante del control del asma es saber cuáles son sus desencadenantes: en casa, en el trabajo, en la escuela o mientras está al aire libre.
Un proveedor de atención médica puede ayudarlo a determinar esto y luego podrá tomar medidas para evitar esos desencadenantes y respirar mejor.
En casa
Debido a que el asma generalmente se debe a alergias, los desencadenantes suelen ser alérgenos o cosas que causan reacciones alérgicas. Los alérgenos como la caspa de las mascotas, los ácaros del polvo, las plagas y el humo pueden empeorar los síntomas del asma en algunas personas y, en otras, incluso desencadenar un ataque de asma.
El Instituto Nacional del Corazón, los Pulmones y la Sangre (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NHLBI) sugiere que puede resultar útil combinar algunas estrategias diferentes para ayudar a reducir la exposición a los desencadenantes.
Las personas sensibles al polvo pueden limpiar con una aspiradora con filtros de aire de partículas de alta eficiencia (high-efficiency particulate air, HEPA) y usar fundas para colchones y almohadas que eviten la exposición a los ácaros del polvo. Si es sensible a plagas como cucarachas y roedores, considere el manejo integrado de plagas, que implica eliminar y controlar plagas mediante métodos como trampas o veneno. Evitar el humo del tabaco, incluido el humo de segunda mano, puede resultar especialmente útil para algunas personas con asma.
En la escuela
El asma es una de las principales razones por las que los niños faltan a la escuela. En la escuela, los niños pueden estar expuestos a ácaros del polvo, plagas y moho, que pueden ser desencadenantes del asma en algunos niños.
Debido a que los niños pasan mucho tiempo en la escuela, puede ser útil que los maestros, el personal de enfermería escolar o los entrenadores sepan qué hacer si los síntomas de su hijo empeoran. Trabaje en equipo con un proveedor de atención médica para elaborar un plan de acción contra el asma y compártalo con los adultos de confianza de la escuela de su hijo.
En el trabajo
El lugar de trabajo puede tener cientos de desencadenantes potenciales, como productos de limpieza a base de cloro, blanqueadores, tintes para el cabello y polvo metálico. Las exposiciones repetidas en el lugar de trabajo también pueden provocar nuevos desencadenantes. Informe a su proveedor de atención médica y a su supervisor del lugar de trabajo si hay síntomas nuevos o si los existentes empeoran en el trabajo.
Al aire libre
El clima cotidiano, como el aire frío y seco, puede provocar problemas respiratorios. La contaminación del aire también puede afectar el asma. Puede ser útil evitar algunos de los peores casos de contaminación si cambia el momento y el lugar en que hace actividad física. Intente evitar hacer ejercicio cerca de caminos muy transitados o zonas industriales. Visite airnow.gov para conocer la calidad del aire de su zona y evitar actividades al aire libre cuando la contaminación es más alta.
Controlar los factores desencadenantes es solo una parte de mantener el asma bajo control. Trabaje en equipo con un proveedor de atención médica para elaborar un plan de tratamiento contra el asma que incluya tomar medicamentos según se lo indiquen y hacer un seguimiento de sus síntomas y del lugar donde se encuentra cuando ocurren. De esa manera, podrá saber qué empeora o mejora su asma.
¿Quiere aprender más sobre el asma? Visite el programa Learn More Breathe Better® del NHLBI en nhlbi.nih.gov/BreatheBetter.
Foto cortesía de Shutterstock
Food and Beverage
Nationwide Health Alert for E. coli Contaminated Ground Beef: What You Need to Know
“Nationwide health alert issued for E. coli-contaminated ground beef. Check FSIS website for affected products and disposal instructions.”
A recent national health alert has been issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regarding Greater Omaha ground beef products potentially contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. This particular strain of E. coli can cause severe gastrointestinal infections in humans. In this article, we will provide you with all the information you need to know about this alert and how to stay safe.
Product Details:
The affected ground beef products were produced and packaged on March 28, 2024, with a “Use/Freeze by” date of April 22, 2024. The packaging will also have “EST.960A” inside the USDA mark of inspection. While the ground beef was distributed to various restaurants and retail locations nationwide, it is important to note that the impacted products are no longer available for sale.
Affected Products:
- 10-lb. ground beef chub: GROUND BEEF 85 FINE GRIND 10#/6 (Lot codes: 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33; Case code: 263085)
- 5-lb. ground beef chub: GROUND BEEF GOHERF GB RIB BRISKET CHUCK CRAFT BURGER 5LB (Lot code: 26; Case code: 66500)
- 5-lb. ground beef chub: Greater Omaha 100% ALL NATURAL 5 LBS. GOURMET BLEND RIB BRISKET CHUCK
- 5-lb. ground beef chub: GROUND BEEF GOHERF GB 81 FINE GRIND 5#/12 EXACT WEIGHT (Lot code: 26; Case code: 663581)
- 4-pack 8-oz ground beef patties: GROUND BEEF GOANG GB Patty 8OZ Homestyle Rib/Brisket/CH (Lot code: 34; Case code: 716800)
- 4-pack 8-oz ground beef patties: LOT 34 Ground Beef GB GOANG 75 PATTY PUCK 8 OZ (Lot code: 34; Case code: 728075)
- 4-pack 7-oz ground beef patties: LOT 34 GROUND BEEF GOANG Rib/Brisket/Chuck 7OZ HOMESTYLE (Lot code: 34; Case code: 716700)
- 6-oz ground beef patties: LOT 34 GROUND BEEF GOANG GB PATTY 6 OZ HOMESTYLE RIB/BRISKET/CHUCK (Lot code: 34; Case code: 716600)
- 5-lb. ground beef chub: GROUND BEEF GOHERF GB 81 FINE GRIND 5LB EXACT WEIGHT (Lot code: 26; Case code: 63581)
- 6-pack 5.33-oz ground beef patties: Ground Beef GOHERF RIB BRISKET CHUCK 5.33oz HOMESTYLE (Lot code: 27; Case code: 616500)
- 4-pack 8-oz ground beef patties: LOT 27 Ground Beef GOHERF Homestyle GB PATTY RIB/BRISKET/CHUCK 8 OZ (Lot code: 27; Case code: 616800)
- 10-lb. ground beef chub: GROUND BEEF 73 FINE GRIND 10#/6 (Lot code: 37; Case code: 263073)
- 4-pack 8-oz ground beef patties: LOT 51 Ground Beef GB GOANG 75 PATTY PUCK 8OZ (Lot code: 51; Case code: 728075)
Recommendations:
If you have any of the above-mentioned ground beef products stored in your freezer, the FSIS advises against consuming them. Instead, it is important to either throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. Doing so will help prevent potential health risks.
Moreover, it is essential to note that no confirmed illness cases have been reported thus far in connection with this specific health alert. However, if you have consumed the ground beef and are experiencing any symptoms of illness, it is recommended to reach out to a healthcare provider immediately.
Ensuring the safety and well-being of consumers is a priority, and that is precisely why this nationwide health alert has been issued concerning E. coli contamination in specific Greater Omaha ground beef products. By taking the necessary precautions and following the FSIS recommendations, we can collectively prevent any potential health risks associated with this incident.
Remember, staying informed and proactive during such situations is crucial for ensuring the health and safety of yourself and your loved ones. Keep up to date with any further developments by visiting the FSIS website or seeking information from reliable sources. Stay safe and healthy!
Check out the article on The Hill regarding the E. Coli warning. https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/4610002-nationwide-health-alert-issued-for-ground-beef-over-potential-e-coli-risk/
What is E. Coli?
-Escherichia coli is a gram-negative, facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped coliform bacterium. – It is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms. – Most E. coli strains are harmless, but some can cause food poisoning and contamination incidents. – Some strains of E. coli are beneficial to humans by producing vitamin or preventing the colonization of pathogenic bacteria. – E. coli is expelled through fecal matter and grows rapidly for three days before declining.
E. coli and other bacteria make up only a small part of the gut microbiota, but can cause disease through fecal-oral transmission. They can be used as indicators to test for fecal contamination in the environment, and some strains can survive for days outside a host.
E. coli is a bacterium that has been extensively studied for over 60 years and can be easily and inexpensively grown in a lab. It is a chemoheterotroph and requires carbon and energy. E. coli is the most widely studied prokaryotic model organism and is significant in biotechnology and microbiology. It reproduces quickly, taking as little as 20 minutes under favorable conditions. (Wikipedia)
health and wellness
Breathe Better with Asthma, Wherever You Are
Identify and avoid asthma triggers to breathe easier and manage your symptoms.
(Family Features) If you have asthma, you know that symptoms can come on quickly, then worsen.
The things that make them do that are called triggers. An important part of managing asthma is knowing your triggers at home, work, school or while you’re outdoors.
A health care provider can help you figure that out, then you can take steps to avoid those triggers and breathe easier.
At Home
Because asthma is usually due to allergies, triggers are often allergens, or things that cause allergic reactions. Allergens such as pet dander, dust mites, pests and smoke can make asthma symptoms worse in some people, and for others, even trigger an asthma attack.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) suggests that it may be helpful to combine a few different strategies to help reduce exposure to triggers.
People sensitive to dust can clean with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration vacuum and use mattress and pillow covers that prevent exposure to dust mites. If you’re sensitive to pests like cockroaches and rodents, consider integrated pest management, which involves removing and controlling pests through methods such as traps or poison. Avoiding tobacco smoke, including secondhand smoke, can be especially helpful for some people with asthma.
At School
Asthma is one of the leading reasons children miss school. At school, kids may be exposed to dust mites, pests and mold, which may be asthma triggers for some children.
Because children spend lots of time at school, it can be helpful for teachers, school nurses or coaches to know what to do if your child’s symptoms flare up. Team up with a health care provider to develop an asthma action plan and share it with trusted adults at your child’s school.
At Work
The workplace can have hundreds of potential triggers, like chlorine-based cleaning products, bleaches, hair dyes and metal dust. Repeated exposures in the workplace can also lead to new triggers. Report new or worsening symptoms that occur at work to your health care provider and your workplace supervisor.
Outdoors
Everyday weather like cold, dry air can set off breathing problems. Air pollution can affect asthma, too.
It may be helpful to avoid some of the worst pollution by adjusting when and where you exercise. Try to avoid exercising near busy roads or industrial areas. Visit airnow.gov to check your local air quality so you can plan to avoid outdoor activities when pollution is highest.
Managing your triggers is just one part of keeping your asthma under control. Work with a health care provider to develop an asthma treatment plan that includes taking medicines as prescribed and keeping track of your symptoms and where you are when they occur. That way, you can know what’s making your asthma worse or better.
To learn more about asthma, visit NHLBI’s Learn More Breathe Better® program at nhlbi.nih.gov/BreatheBetter.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
SOURCE:
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
-
Community1 year agoDiana Gregory Talks to us about Diana Gregory’s Outreach Services
-
Senior Pickleball Report1 year ago
ACE PICKLEBALL CLUB TO DEBUT THEIR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED INDOOR PICKLEBALL FRANCHISES IN THE US, IN EARLY 2023
-
Entertainment1 year ago
The Absolute Most Comfortable Pickleball Shoe I’ve Ever Worn!
-
Automotive1 year ago
2023 Nissan Sentra pricing starts at $19,950
-
Blog1 year ago
Unique Experiences at the CitizenM
-
Senior Pickleball Report1 year ago
“THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS OF PICKLEBALL” – VOTING OPEN
-
Blog1 year ago
Assistory Showing Support on Senior Assist Day
-
influencers1 year ago
Keeping Pickleball WEIRD, INEXPENSIVE and FUN? These GUYS are!
