According to a team of researchers at Columbia University, it’s possible to use computer-type circuitry to “listen in” on communication between bacteria cells.

The purpose of the technology is to help understand how biofilms form. Biofilms are complex communities of microbial cells that grow together, and about 60 percent to 80 percent of microbial infections in humans are caused by these bacteria.

While the new chip can only listen to bacteria now, sceintists hope it one day can be used to interrupt “conversations” between bacteria cells to keep the community of cells causing an infection from growing.

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Sourced from: Medical News Today, Scientists create computer chips that can ‘listen’ to bacteria

New research presented at the American Stroke Association’s recent International Stroke Conference suggests that weather conditions and stroke risk may have a strong connection.

To conduct their study, researchers analyzed the medical records of 134,510 patients hospitalized in 2009-10 with ischemic stroke, which is caused by a blood clot blocking the blood flow to the brain. They then cross-referenced this data with meteorological records of temperature and dew point data from this period.

The team found that large daily temperature changes and higher-than-average air moisture were linked to higher hospitalization rates from stroke and that lower-than-average annual temperatures were also associated with death and hospitalization from stroke. They also found that although increases in daily temperature fluctuation and average dew point were associated with increased odds of hospitalization, there was no increased risk of death. 

While weather really is stroke risk factor we can’t control, the study results suggest that people who are at risk for stroke may want to avoid being in a place where there are significant temperature changes and a high dew point.

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Sourced from: Medical News Today, Are stroke deaths linked to changes in the weather?