UW-Madison researchers previously described a method of determining whether or not an animal is suffering from a catabolic change by sampling isotope changes in breath or blood.
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The catabolic state refers to the condition where the body uses stores of carbohydrates, amino acids or fats as a source of energy for maintenance. The catabolic state may be induced by infection, dis...
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An otoscope is a classic, handheld medical device that allows a doctor to look into the ear canal and tympanic membrane (eardrum). This is important for diagnosing ear infections, membrane ruptures an...
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An estimated eight out of 10 people will be affected by a spine condition during their lifetime, making treatment options like spinal fusion surgery imperative. Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure i...
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Walking impairment can be caused by many factors such as aging, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy and other conditions that disrupt balance and posture. Stroke, for example, is the leading cause...
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During electrocorticography (ECoG), electrodes are placed directly on the exposed surface of the brain or spinal cord to record electrical signals. The practice is used to conduct neuroscience researc...
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Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in American men, causing more than 27,000 deaths every year. An estimated one man in seven will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. ...
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As an alternative to surgery, thermal ablation is a method of treating tumors of the liver, kidney, lung and other body parts. In the process, a slender antenna or probe is inserted through the skin t...
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Minimally invasive surgeries – including robotic procedures – utilize manipulators, which are inserted into patients to help maneuver tissue or tools. Manipulators can be classified either as rigi...
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"Orthobiologics" provides an improved method of treating fractures and other bone defects. This therapy employs inductive molecules, such as bone morphogenetic protein-2 or bone morphogeneti...
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Approximately 15 million Americans suffer from a swallowing disorder (dysphagia). People with acid reflux, a neurological disorder or cancer of the head and neck are particularly at risk. The leading ...
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The ability to control the delivery of biomolecules to cells and tissues has many therapeutic and research applications. In particular, spatial and temporal control over the release of multiple biolog...
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Tinnitus is the perception of a sound with no external source. The sounds could be produced within a patient’s own body, like crackling caused by muscle spasms, or wholly imagined. Either way, d...
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The inhalation of small amounts of carbon monoxide (CO) by a transplant organ recipient has been shown to significantly improve transplant outcomes. Currently, medical grade CO is only available in hi...
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Transfection is the process of introducing nucleic acids into cells. Two main strategies are viral (utilizing viruses as vectors) and non-viral. Non-viral methods are less efficient but attractive for...
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Drills are commonly used during orthopedic surgery to place screws that allow fixation of fractured bones. One problem that surgeons face while drilling is the overlying soft tissue becoming entangled...
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Touch screen systems have many advantages, including simplification of the user's task and elimination of a separate keyboard. However, touch screen systems present an insurmountable barrier to many p...
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Compact solid-state LED/LD (light-emitting diode) light sources are by their nature near-point sources. Applications that take advantage of these highly efficient, spectrally engineered light sources ...
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Oral ingestion of pharmaceuticals is considered the safest, most convenient and most economical method of administering drugs. However, many pharmaceuticals cannot be delivered orally because they are...
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The Braille language is the universally accepted form of written communication for the visually impaired. A system of dots, arranged in a three row by two column grid, is used to display different let...
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A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted prosthetic device that can provide profoundly deaf individuals with sensations of sound. These devices improve the quality of life for hundreds of thousand...
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Newborn screening is the practice of testing newborns for certain harmful or potentially fatal disorders that are not otherwise apparent at birth. Generally, blood drops are obtained from the heel, fi...
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Hydrocephalus is a disorder in which a subject’s body produces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at a rate faster than the venous system is able to absorb the fluid. The increase in intracranial pressur...
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Wound healing is a complex and dynamic process of rebuilding skin and tissue. Chronic or impaired wounds result when tissues fail to progress through the necessary stages of healing. This is a signifi...
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Glottic insufficiency is the medical term used to describe inadequate vocal fold contact during voice production. Glottic insufficiency results in poor voice quality and “breathiness” duri...
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