Supporting scientific discoveries in a worldwide - 21st June 2021

Despite still living in a world mainly dominated by COVID-19, as a team at CleanAir by Baker, we feel that it is still important to support those working in patient and clinical care throughout the world.

Our mission to #SupportScience is currently greater than ever and so, let’s take a look at some of this month’s key findings.

Regular poor sleep puts us at risk of various serious medical conditions, but it also can affect our ability to concentrate and memorize. Now, a new study demonstrates that poor sleep in those with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and intellectual disability may be caused by high levels of serotonin. Researchers also discovered that the origin of the high serotonin and sleep issues are likely linked to the blood brain barrier.

Further research will be needed; however, this study provides the basis for future developments.

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Doctors from Erasmus MC, UMC Utrecht and UMC Groningen have recently performed the very first DCD heart donation procedures in The Netherlands. Previously, heart donation was only ever possible through a brain-dead donor, however DCD means that donation is now possible after circulatory death instead and is more likely the be performed in children.

With a national shortage of donor hearts, this was the reason for the UMCs to look at the use of this this technique in The Netherlands, this was done in collaboration with the Dutch Transplantation Foundation and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport

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A new study led by Dr. Xiao Liu of Pennsylvania State University has linked sleep-dependent brain activity with the excretion of toxic proteins related to Alzheimer’s disease. This activity is weaker in the brains of people with a higher risk of cognitive decline. Upholding previous findings which indicated that low frequency brain waves produced a non-rapid eye movement sleep phase can play a vital role in clearing brain waste.

The discovery would provide biomarkers for diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases in the future.

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A global healthcare company, known as Organon have recently formed a separate company which will focus on improving the health of woman at varying stages in life. Although the company currently focus on immunology and oncology, the new business venture aims to focus on women in particular.

In developing a new R&D approach placing women at the center, the company have said that they will be ‘actively listening’ to healthcare professionals and women in general about their unmet medical needs.

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Neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Epilepsy have had treatment success with deep brain stimulation, however this often requires surgical implementation. A team from Washington University in St. Louis have now developed a new brain stimulation technique using specifically focused ultrasound waves. The technique is able to turn the neurons in the brain on and off without the need for surgical implementation.

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1. https://www.genengnews.com/news/sleep-issues-in-neurodevelopmental-disorders-may-be-linked-to-high-serotonin-and-blood-brain-barrier/ 2. https://amazingerasmusmc.nl/actueel/eerste-succesvolle-dcd-hartdonaties-in-nederland/ 3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/deep-sleep-may-help-clear-the-brain-of-alzheimers-related-toxins 4. https://www.biopharma-reporter.com/Article/2021/06/03/Organon-launches-as-a-new-women-s-health-focused-company 5. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/05/210528150507.htm