Add BrightSurf on Google Email

'Epidermal VR' gives technology a human touch

Northwestern University researchers create a thin, wireless system that adds a sense of touch to virtual reality experiences, enabling new applications in social interactions, prosthetics, telemedicine, and entertainment. The device transmits touch patterns through miniature vibrating actuators embedded into a soft, flexible material.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature·DateNov 20, 2019

Images offer most detailed glimpse yet into how skin senses temperature

Columbia University researchers have captured the most detailed images yet of a temperature-sensing molecule in its open, intermediate, and closed states. The findings will help us understand the mechanics of hot and cold sensation, which could accelerate the development of drugs for inflammatory skin disease, itch, and pain.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateOct 21, 2019

How do ketogenic diets affect skin inflammation?

A study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that ketogenic diets heavy in coconut oil and palm oils worsened psoriasiform-like skin inflammation in mice. In contrast, well-balanced ketogenic diets with long-chain triglycerides did not exacerbate skin inflammation.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Investigative Dermatology·DateOct 17, 2019

New pain organ discovered in the skin

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a new sensory organ in the skin that detects painful mechanical damage, such as pricks and pressure. This discovery changes our understanding of the cellular mechanisms of physical sensation and may be significant in the understanding of chronic pain.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalScience·DateAug 15, 2019

Illinois professor contributes to improved care for NICU babies

Researchers developed a wireless, battery-free sheath that can be laid on the skin and gently peeled off when needed. The patch gathers medical data and processes it locally to reduce information sent wirelessly. Since deployment at two hospitals, 90 babies have used the patches, validating them as a feasible alternative to current tec...

Skin diseases are more common than we think

A recent study found that at least one skin abnormality affects 64.5% of the adult population, with men being more frequently affected than women. The prevalence of skin diseases increases with age and is associated with significant economic burdens.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology·DateMar 20, 2019

New potential approach to treat atopic dermatitis

Researchers found that a small yeast species called Malassezia strengthens the body's defenses against pathogens, but its balance with the immune system is key to preventing atopic dermatitis. A new potential treatment targets this balance by neutralizing interleukin-17 cytokine production.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateMar 18, 2019

A deeper look at the relationship between dermatitis and food allergy, in pediatric patients

Food allergies are associated with unique skin properties and abnormalities in pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis. The study found decreased filaggrin, elevated type 2 immune responses, and increased keratin expression in skin samples from patients with food allergy and dermatitis.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateFeb 20, 2019

How the brain responds to texture

New research reveals that neurons in the brain's somatosensory cortex respond differently to various features of a surface, creating a high-dimensional representation of texture. This complex neural landscape allows for the rich sensation of texture, enabling us to distinguish between subtle differences.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 8, 2019

Using light to stop itch

Scientists at EMBL Rome have discovered a way to treat itchy skin conditions like eczema by using near-infrared light to bind to specialized nerve cells. This method has shown promising results in mice with eczema and amyloidosis, offering new hope for potential human treatments.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateDec 17, 2018