1) Russia-based company called 3D Bioprinting Solutions headed up by Vladimir Mironov, recently printed the first ever Thyroid (thAЙроид) Gland of a mouse, which could then be transplanted into a living mouse in order to further evaluate its capabilities.
The printer used to construct the thyroid, works by using stem cells taken from the living organism via its fat cells. It then mixes these cells with a hydrogel, placing them down via an extruder, layer-by-layer. Once the cells take shape, the hydrogel dissolves, leaving the organ.
http://3dprint.com/54159/3d-printed-thyroid-mouse/
2) American researchers at the University of North Carolina can improve the way humans walk without using an external power source. A boot-like exoskeleton that fits into a regular running shoe reduces the energetic costs of walking by about 7 percent. In short, it makes walking less tiring without resorting to a battery pack or a motor — something that could really come in handy for people who have trouble walking, or military personnel in remote areas.
http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/1/8326143/mechanical-exoskeleton-makes-walking-easier
3) A team of researchers from the University of Houston has developed an algorithm that enabled a man whose right hand had been amputated to grasp objects using a bionic hand controlled by his thoughts.
The new technique is non-invasive, capturing brain activity via a scalp 64-channel active EEG. The scalp EEG was then fitted to a 56-year-old man whose right hand had been amputated and a high-tech bionic hand fitted to the remaining stump. After being told to observe and visualize himself controlling the hand, he was able to grasp the various objects using his thoughts with an 80 percent success rate. The researchers claim this is the first time grasping has been demonstrated using EEG-based brain-machine interface (BMI) control of a multi-fingered prosthetic hand.
http://www.gizmag.com/bionic-hand-eeg-bmi-control/36829/
4) Researchers at the Imperial College London and the Houston Methodist Research Institute are one of many teams investigating the approach of directly delivering nucleic acids, the building blocks of all living organisms, to selected cells by injecting them through the cell’s membrane. The exciting aspect of this method is that it could be used not only for regrowing blood vessels (in itself a big achievement), but perhaps also to one day genetically reprogram cells to carry out specific functions.
http://www.gizmag.com/silicon-nanoneedles-cell-reprogramming/36805/
5) That’s almost all for today. In addition wed like you to watch our next video where a 7 year old girl gets a newly 3D printed bionic hand. Faith Lennox lost her hand when she was nine-months-old due to her position in the womb at childbirth that cut off blood flow to her left forearm. Prosthetic limbs can cost thousands of dollars but this one cost just around 50 and weights only 400 grams.
TV Presenter: Olesya Yermakova
Video: Igor Kryzhanovsky
Editor: Alexander Sokolkov