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Human health is a topic that impacts everyone. From groundbreaking findings hinting at future treatments to innovative surgical methods offering hope to those with disabilities, the media is filled with stories about our well-being and physical health.
10. Researchers Uncover a Previously Unknown Body Part
In 1879, French surgeon Paul Segond documented a “pearly, resilient fibrous band” within the knee's ligaments. This finding was largely ignored until 2013, when researchers identified the anterolateral ligament, a crucial component in knee stability and injury. Surprisingly overlooked despite frequent knee scans and treatments, this discovery was detailed in the Journal of Anatomy, published online in August 2013.
The researchers analyzed 41 unmatched cadaver knees and identified the new ligament in all except one, confirming it as a distinct tissue with a unique and well-defined structure.
Earlier that year, a study in the journal Ophthalmology revealed another new human body part in the eye, a microscopic corneal layer named “Dua’s Layer.”
9. A Breakthrough in Brain-Computer Interface Technology
Researchers from Korea University and Germany’s Technological University have created an innovative interface enabling users to operate a lower-limb exoskeleton by interpreting specific brain signals. Their findings were published in August 2015 in the Journal of Neural Engineering.
Users don an electroencephalogram (EEG) cap and control the exoskeleton by focusing on one of five LEDs attached to the device. This action enables the exoskeleton to move forward, turn in either direction, or transition between sitting and standing.
Currently, the system has only been trialed on healthy individuals, but researchers aim to adapt it for assisting people with disabilities. Coauthor Klaus Muller stated, “Individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or severe spinal cord injuries often struggle with communication and limb mobility. Interpreting their brain signals could provide new ways for them to communicate and regain mobility.”
8. A Revolutionary Device That Enables Paralyzed Limbs to Move Using Brain Signals
In 2010, Ian Burkhart suffered a paralyzing injury after hitting a sandbar while swimming, resulting in a broken neck. By 2013, through a collaboration between Ohio State University and Battelle, Burkhart became the first person to bypass his spinal cord and move a limb solely through thought.
This achievement was made possible by an innovative electronic neural bypass, which involves implanting a pea-sized chip into the brain’s motor cortex. The chip deciphers brain signals, transmits them to a computer, and the computer then relays the signals to a wearable sleeve that activates the appropriate muscles. This entire process occurs in a fraction of a second.
Reaching this milestone required significant effort. The research team had to identify the exact electrode sequence enabling Burkhart to move his hand. Burkhart also underwent months of therapy to strengthen his weakened muscles. As a result, he can now rotate his hand, form a fist, and pinch his fingers to grip objects.
7. Bacteria That Consumes Nicotine to Aid Smokers in Quitting
Quitting smoking is notoriously challenging, as anyone who has attempted it can attest. Nearly 80% of those who use over-the-counter cessation products fail. In 2015, researchers at the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology at Scripps Research Institute discovered a promising solution: a bacterial enzyme from Pseudomonas putida that breaks down nicotine before it reaches the brain. While the enzyme itself isn’t new, it has only recently been synthesized in the lab.
The team aims to harness this enzyme for new anti-smoking treatments. By preventing nicotine from reaching the brain and triggering dopamine release (the brain’s “reward” chemical), they hope to eliminate the craving for cigarettes. For such therapies to be effective, they must remain stable without causing adverse effects. So far, the lab-created enzyme has stayed stable for over three weeks in a buffer solution (and three days in serum), with no side effects observed in lab mice.
The findings from their experiments were published in the online August edition of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
6. A Breakthrough in Developing a Universal Flu Vaccine
Peptides, short chains of amino acids, serve as the fundamental building blocks of proteins and are present on cell structures. In 2012, researchers from the University of Southampton, University of Oxford, and Retroscreen Virology Ltd. discovered a new group of peptides on influenza viruses that could pave the way for a universal vaccine effective against all flu strains. Their findings were detailed in the journal Nature Medicine.
For influenza, the peptides on the virus's outer surface mutate quickly, making them challenging targets for drugs or vaccines. However, the newly identified peptides are located within the cell's internal structure and mutate at a slower rate. These internal structures are consistent across all influenza strains, including seasonal, swine, and avian flu. While current flu vaccines take approximately six months to develop and offer limited immunity, targeting these internal peptides could lead to a universal vaccine providing long-term protection.
Influenza is a viral infection affecting the upper respiratory system, targeting the nose, throat, and lungs. It can be fatal, particularly for the elderly, young children, or those with preexisting health conditions. Historically, influenza strains have caused multiple pandemics, including the devastating 1918 pandemic. While the exact death toll remains uncertain, estimates suggest 30–50 million people worldwide lost their lives.
5. A Potential Breakthrough in Curing Parkinson’s Disease
In 2014, researchers successfully transplanted artificial yet fully functional human neurons into mice brains. These neurons hold promise for treating or even curing conditions like Parkinson’s disease.
The neurons were developed by a collaborative team from the Max Planck Institute, University Hospital Munster, and the University of Bielefeld. They generated stable nerve tissue by reprogramming skin cells into neurons. This method enhances the compatibility of the transplanted neurons. After six months, the mice showed no negative side effects, with the implanted neurons successfully integrating into their brains, displaying normal brain activity and forming new synapses.
This innovative technique could enable neuroscientists to replace unhealthy or damaged neurons with functional ones, potentially leading to treatments or cures for conditions like Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is characterized by the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, resulting in symptoms such as muscle stiffness, speech and gait changes, and tremors. While there is currently no cure, symptoms can be managed. The disease typically manifests in individuals aged 50 to 60.
4. The First FDA-Approved Bionic Eye
Retinitis pigmentosa is the most prevalent among a group of inherited, progressive retinal conditions that lead to vision loss and often total blindness. Initial symptoms include difficulty seeing at night and reduced peripheral vision.
In 2013, the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System was launched as the world’s first FDA-approved bionic eye, designed to address late-stage retinitis pigmentosa. The system includes glasses equipped with a camera that converts video into electrical pulses. These pulses are transmitted to an electrode array implanted on the retina, allowing the brain to perceive patterns of light. Patients learn to interpret these patterns, restoring partial visual perception.
As stated on their website, the Argus II is currently available in the United States and Canada, with plans for global expansion.
3. A Groundbreaking Double Hand Transplant
In 2015, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine achieved a historic milestone by successfully transplanting two donor hands and forearms onto eight-year-old Zion Harvey. Harvey had previously undergone a kidney transplant and double amputation following a severe infection at age two.
Initially assessed at the Shriners Hospital for Children, Harvey was evaluated as a candidate through a collaboration between the two institutions. The donor limbs were provided by the Gift of Life Donor Program, a nonprofit serving eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and Delaware.
The surgical team performed a complex, 10-hour operation in July, connecting bones, blood vessels, nerves, and tendons to complete the transplant. Harvey became the first child in the world to receive a bilateral hand transplant. He now requires daily immunosuppressant medications and physical therapy to regain functionality. Like other transplant recipients, Harvey will need lifelong medication and therapy to prevent tissue rejection.
2. A Synthetic Ribosome Breakthrough
A ribosome is a complex molecular structure made up of two subunits that assemble proteins within cells using amino acids, a process called translation. These subunits are created in the cell’s nucleus and then transported to the cytoplasm.
In 2015, Alexander Mankin, director of the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy’s Center for Biomolecular Sciences, and Michael Jewett, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering at Northwestern University, achieved a breakthrough by creating the world’s first synthetic ribosome. This innovation offers new insights into ribosome functionality and could pave the way for advanced drugs and biological materials. Their research was published in the July online issue of the renowned journal Science.
As detailed in their paper, the artificial ribosome, named “Ribo-T,” functioned effectively in E. coli cells even without natural ribosomes, sustaining bacterial life and demonstrating evolutionary capabilities.
Unlike traditional ribosomes, Ribo-T’s subunits remain connected, challenging the long-held belief that subunit separation is essential for protein synthesis. This discovery is reshaping our understanding of ribosomes. “Our novel protein-producing system has the potential to revolutionize the genetic code, opening new avenues for synthetic biology and biomolecular engineering,” stated Michael Jewett.
1. A Revolutionary Light-Based Painkiller
Traditionally, severe pain has been managed using opioid medications. However, these drugs carry a high risk of addiction and abuse, often accompanied by severe withdrawal symptoms. What if scientists could alleviate pain using only light?
In April 2015, neuroscientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis achieved this by combining a light-sensitive protein with opioid receptors in a lab setting. They successfully activated opioid receptors using light, mimicking the effects of opioid drugs. Their findings were published online in the journal Neuron.
Researchers hope to develop light-based pain relief methods with fewer side effects than traditional drugs. Study author Edward R. Siuda suggested that, with further research, light could potentially replace medications entirely.
To test the new receptor, a tiny LED light, comparable in size to a human hair, was implanted into the brains of mice injected with the receptor. The mice were placed in a chamber where light stimulated dopamine release via the receptors. When the mice moved away from a specific area, the light turned off, halting stimulation. The mice consistently returned to the original area.
