Targeting lactic acid in tumors may be key to stunting their growth

Nick Lavars — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 06:02:58 GMT

Scientists have known for some time that lactic acid can fuel the growth of tumors, but the biological mechanisms behind this relationship have remained unclear. A new study has drilled into the matter and turned up some useful answers around how lactic acid inhibits the body's natural defenses against cancer, which the authors believe could leave to new and improved forms of immunotherapy to treat it.

Category: Cancer, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind

Tags: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Cancer, Immunotherapy, Tumor, The Immune System, New Atlas Audio

AMP-Foot 2.0 prosthesis mimics human ankle's spring

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:27:01 GMT

The majority of protheses available today that replace the lower leg, ankle, and foot are passive devices that store energy in an elastic element (similar to a coiled spring) at the beginning of a step and release during push-off to give you some added boost. While this type of prosthetic is energy efficient, it doesn't replicate the full power we get from our muscles. In order to provide that kind of energy an actuator is required, and these are often heavy and bulky. Researchers at Belgium's Vrije Universiteit Brussel have streamlined the technology in a device they call the AMP-Foot (Ankle Mimicking Prosthetic Foot).

Category: Medical Devices, Medical Innovations, Body and Mind

Tags: Prosthetics, Prosthesis, Walk, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Research