Reduce Back Pain

Daily Upsider on July 3, 2024

New research suggests that walking more could significantly alleviate back pain for millions of sufferers. Adults with a history of lower back pain experienced longer periods without recurrence when they engaged in regular walking, according to a groundbreaking study.

Approximately 800 million people worldwide endure low back pain, often recurring and a major cause of disability. The study by Macquarie University’s Spinal Pain Research Group in Sydney investigated whether walking could serve as a practical and effective intervention.

Researchers tracked 701 adults who had recently recovered from low back pain, dividing them into groups: one received an individualized walking program and physiotherapist-guided education sessions over six months, while the other served as a control.

Over one to three years, participants in the walking program experienced significantly longer periods before recurrence of pain compared to the control group (208 days versus 112 days median). Mark Hancock, senior author of the study published in The Lancet, emphasized the potential global impact of these findings on back pain management.

“Walking is a low-cost, widely accessible exercise that almost anyone can do, regardless of location, age, or socioeconomic status,” Hancock noted. He suggested that walking’s benefits likely stem from its gentle movements, which may strengthen spinal structures, provide relaxation, and release endorphins.

Dr. Natasha Pocovi, lead author, highlighted that the program not only extended pain-free periods but also proved cost-effective, reducing healthcare visits and work absences.

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George Washington’s Cherries Found

Daily Upsider on July 2, 2024

Archaeologists have unearthed 35 glass bottles from the 18th century in the cellar of George Washington’s home. The five storage pits under Mount Vernon contained 29 intact bottles of preserved cherries, a fruit linked to Washington.

Workers discovered the stash during a renovation of Washington’s manor. “Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine this spectacular archaeological discovery,” said Mount Vernon President & CEO Doug Bradburn. “We were ecstatic.” “To our knowledge, this is an unprecedented find and nothing of this scale and significance has ever been excavated in North America.” he added.

The contents of the bottles, some containing berries like currants, have been extracted and refrigerated for scientific analysis. The bottles are drying in the Mount Vernon archaeology lab and will be sent off-site for conservation. “These artifacts likely haven’t seen the light of day since before the American Revolution” said Mount Vernon Principal Archaeologist Jason Boroughs.

Mount Vernon is partnering with the US Department of Agriculture’s Research Service to analyze the contents. They have identified 54 cherry pits and 23 stems, likely from a tart variety. The cherries may be candidates for DNA extraction to determine the species.

The team at Mount Vernon hopes some pits will be viable for growing future fruit trees, especially as the county prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.

Am I the only one who is curious how those old, fermented cherries would taste like?

New Tech Revives ‘Unusable’ Organs

Daily Upsider on July 2, 2024

34 Lives, a medical innovation company, is making a significant impact in kidney transplants with their innovative technology that “revives” kidneys typically rejected by surgeons. So far, they have successfully saved ten kidneys and ten lives, with many more to come.

In the US, over 120,000 people await organ transplants, most needing kidneys. Patients on the waiting list often endure years of dialysis, risking their health and lives. Daily, 34 people die waiting. Choosing West Lafayette, near Purdue University, was strategic for 34 Lives. Purdue supports startups and offers top-tier facilities and engineering talent, enhancing 34 Lives’ life-saving efforts.

Around 30% of recovered kidneys are discarded, a loss for patients and donors’ families. 34 Lives aims to ensure donated kidneys save lives as intended. Their facility at Purdue Research Park includes custom-built Organ Rescue Labs, essential for quickly reviving and sending kidneys for transplant. Time is critical; delays in transport can render kidneys nonviable.

34 Lives ensures kidney viability using normothermic preservation, a technique that maintains organs at normal physiological temperature. This method allows for prolonged preservation and the ability to resuscitate organs after warm ischemia. This approach also enables more accurate assessment of the kidneys’ condition before transplantation, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

By collaborating with OPOs and transplant surgeons, 34 Lives identifies and rescues kidneys that would otherwise go unused the keeps them working with normothermic preservation.

Using Purdue’s regional airport, 34 Lives avoids delays common with commercial flights, which is crucial for their success. Their fifth kidney transplant was successful thanks to this proximity.

The partnership with Purdue exemplifies how collaboration can lead to world-changing solutions. Each saved kidney and life brings us closer to a future where no one dies waiting for a transplant.

A Never Before Seen Rock on Mars

Daily Upsider on July 1, 2024

Scientists are investigating a bright white rock on Mars, unlike any seen before.

NASA’s Perseverance rover discovered the 14-inch-high boulder in a dark rock field at Mount Washburn, inside Jezero crater. Named Atoko Point by researchers, the 18-inch-wide boulder has a speckled, light-colored surface. Analysis by Perseverance’s SuperCam and Mastcam-Z reveals that the rock contains pyroxene and feldspar minerals. “Atoko Point’s size, shape, and mineral composition make it unique,” NASA stated.

“The variety of textures and compositions at Mount Washburn is significant, as these rocks likely originated from the crater rim and beyond,” said Brad Garczynski of Western Washington University. “Among these rocks, Atoko Point stood out.” Perseverance, which landed on Mars in 2021 to explore the ancient crater, found the boulder while traversing a dried river delta. The rover altered its route to avoid rough terrain, passing through a dune field to reach the boulder-strewn hill.

Some scientists believe Atoko Point’s minerals formed in a subsurface magma body now exposed at the crater rim. Others suggest the boulder originated beyond Jezero crater and was transported by ancient Martian water flows. “While Atoko is unique, the team expects to find more like it,” NASA added.

A Device that Can Rewire Your Brain

Daily Upsider on July 1, 2024

Twenty million Americans with tinnitus might find relief with an over-the-counter device that has shown to improve symptoms in 84% of users.

This device, called Lenire, uses a combination of tongue stimulation with electricity and white noise played through headphones to help refocus the brain and reduce the perception of ringing in the ears.

Despite its $4,000 price tag and lack of insurance coverage, clinical trials support Lenire’s effectiveness. The FDA has approved it, and clinicians are already using it. While there is limited data on its long-term effectiveness, early results are promising: 80% of users would recommend it, according to NPR.

“It’s not a cure, but Lenire is a significant advancement in the standards of care,” said Ross O’Neil, founder of Neuromode Devices, the company behind Lenire. “It’s the first and only device approved by the FDA based on clinical data.”

Audiologist Brian Fligor, a consultant during Lenire’s development, explains that the device works by shifting the brain’s focus away from the ringing, like moving a spotlight on a stage from one actor to another.