Surgeons may soon be soldering your wounds! Researchers develop innovation that heals injuries –

Just as plumbers use welding to join metal pipes, scientists can now use a similar technique called laser tissue welding to repair wounds.

Despite all the medical advances we’ve made to heal ourselves, the options are pretty limited when it comes to cuts and wounds: a patch for a small cut and something deeper, sticky strips, stitches, or glue.

In the operating room, surgeons have staples to close external wounds and can choose between suturing, cauterizing (tissue that is burned to close a wound) inside the body, or applying a solution based on a protein – fibrin – that causes a clot.

However, these traditional methods can sometimes cause fluid to leak into other structures in the body. This can cause infections and, in severe cases, blood poisoning.

But now researchers have developed a wound healing innovation that could change their options: laser tissue welding. In this technique, a laser heats a paste of biocompatible material – small metal alloy particles such as titanium nitride, along with albumin, a blood-borne protein, and other substances. When laser light is applied to the putty, it forms a protective layer, binds fabrics together and creates a waterproof seal.

The nanoparticles in the solder paste draw the light energy from the laser and confine it where it is needed. Light generates heat and promotes healing by forming a chemical bond with the tissue it touches.

Over time, the paste disappears, being removed by the body’s natural cleansing processes. The scientists behind the new method, based at ETH Zurich, claim the weld provides a perfect seal.

Physicist Oscar Cipolato, who led the research, says: “Leaks are a problem with some types of surgery. They extend the time people spend in the hospital. If you can avoid these complications, patients can avoid a lot of pain and possibly worse outcomes such as death.

Explain: ‘When soldering, you put in a soldering material that gives you a better and stronger bond. This method works in the same way with textiles. We found that it creates a better seal and that the tissue can regenerate more easily and close the wound later.’

So far, the Zurich team, in collaboration with Empa, a Swiss materials science institute, has demonstrated that the technique works using bovine albumin paste (derived from cows) on “welded” pig tissue.

Scientists have known about the potential of lasers to heal wounds for decades, but the challenge was to precisely limit the energy of light.

Lasers emit a series of light of different wavelengths. If the wavelength is too frequent (or short), it can damage the tissues by burning them. If it’s too slow (or too long), it may not be able to generate enough heat.

Despite all the medical advances we’ve made to heal ourselves, the options are pretty limited when it comes to cuts and wounds: a patch for a small cut and anything deeper, sticky strips, stitches, or glue.

The real innovation of the Zurich team was to determine the correct formulation of the paste with the laser and perfect the technique so that the paste reacts to the laser light and generates enough heat to form a seal, but does not damage the surrounding tissue due to the burn. .

Peter Brennan, consultant maxillofacial surgeon and professor emeritus of surgery at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, has this to say about the innovation – depth analysis research, clinical trials and evaluation to evaluate value and safety for patients. But in principle it sounds like a great idea.

NHS consultant colorectal surgeon Shirley Chan says although the technique has not been used in humans, it could be an easy way to manage leaks.

“Currently, the ends of the intestine are joined with sutures that are placed individually by hand or with specially designed staples,” he says. “One of the most serious complications is leakage of the joint. This can lead to the development of infection and sepsis in patients and it may be necessary to return to the operating room.

“This new technique could be an easy way to create a leak-free connection during surgery.”

minor adjustments

Become a morning person by exercising before or at lunchtime, says Russell Foster, professor of circadian neuroscience at the University of Oxford. Exercise and morning light can set your biological clock.

In a recent study, nearly 100 people walked or jogged for an hour at different times of the day for three days. According to the report of the Journal of Physiology, those who trained between 7:00-15:00 woke up earlier, while those who trained later (19:00-22:00) woke up later.

UV rays to “stop the next epidemic”

Ultraviolet light is effective at killing bacteria and viruses in the air, but there is a risk of damaging the skin and eyes.

However, British scientists discovered that a form of eyeshadow called UVC does not penetrate the top layer of the skin or the tear film of the eye. A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports found that far UVC destroyed 98% of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria within five minutes. It could be used to clean up areas where people congregate and potentially “prevent the next pandemic,” the researchers said.

Ultraviolet light is effective at killing bacteria and viruses in the air, but risks damaging the skin and eyes. [File photo]

Strengthen your heart with cranberries

Scientists at King’s College London suggest that eating cranberries every day can improve men’s heart health. When healthy men were asked to eat the equivalent of 100g of powdered fresh cranberries or powdered placebo daily for one month, those who ate the real thing reported better blood flow, an indicator of function, blood vessels and heart.

Writing in the journal Food & Function, the researchers said that polyphenols, powerful phytonutrients in the fruit, could explain the results.

Blood injections relieve arthritis pain

According to a study published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery, blood injections can significantly improve osteoarthritis symptoms.

Fifty-nine patients received injections of platelet-rich plasma (made from their own blood, which was spun in a centrifuge to remove red blood cells). There was an average of 60% improvement in symptoms, including pain, in the first month. Patients who received a second injection (after a median of 12 days) showed greater improvement than patients who received only one injection.

The benefits are thought to be due to the anti-inflammatory effect of plasma: inflammation triggers symptoms and disease progression.