Human lungs are among the most difficult organs to grow artificially, but researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch say they have grown aet of lungs inside a fish tank.

The lungs used cells from two deceased children who died from trauma. Taking collagen and elastin – protein building blocks for connective tissue in the lungs – from one pair of lungs as a “scaffold” for the building process, the scientists then added cells from the other set of lungs for a more complete set. The lungs were then immersed in a nutritious liquid for four weeks, which made it pinker, softer and less dense.

While this is a landmark case of regenerative medicine, it’s only an early step in the research process.  The researchers say they will next attempt to place lab-grown lungs inside a pig.

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Sourced from: medicalnewstoday.com, Human lungs successfully grown in a lab for the first time

Researchers have discovered what they say is the first biological marker for predicting if a teenage boy is at a high risk for developing clinical depression.

For the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the scientists collected saliva samples from hundreds of teen boys and girls. They measured the level of cortisol in the saliva, which is a stress hormone, and then had the teens self-report symptoms of depression.

The teens were then divided into four groups based on their cortisol level and depression symptoms. Follow-up occurred between 12 and 346 months to determine which group was most likely to develop clinical depression.

Results showed that among boys, those with depressive symptoms and high levels of cortisol in their saliva were 14 times more likely to develop clinical depression, compared with boys who had low levels of cortisol and no depressive symptoms.  Girls, on the other hand, were only four times more likely to develop clinical depression if they had high cortisol levels and depressive symptoms.

Researchers say this shows that gender differences may play a part in the development of clinical depression.  They also said that high cortisol levels and symptoms of depression is a new biomarker to help primary care doctors identify boys at high risk for depression.

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Sourced from: Medical News Today, First biomarker discovered for depression in teenage boys

Bullying can have a long-lasting impact on the mental health of its victims, concludes a study published in the journal Pediatrics.

Kids who were repeatedly targeted for bullying were found to have poorer mental and physical health, increased symptoms of depression and lower self-esteem.  Those kids who had been recently bullied also fared worse than kids who had been picked on further in the past.

For the study, researchers surveyed 4,300 students attending public schools in Los Angeles, Houston and Birmingham, AL. They collected data from students in fifth, seventh and 10^th grade, and also surveyed their parents.  The kids were asked about physical bullying, as well as the mental and physical well-being.

Results showed that in all three grade levels, those who had never been bullied were the most psychologically healthy. Those who had been bullied in the past had lasting psychological wounds, but were not as bad as kids who were currently being bullied.

Researchers say the results show that early intervention is essential in bullying to prevent these lasting effects on kids.

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Sourced from: livescience, Bullying Has Lingering Effects on Children’s Mental Health