Author: Tom Patriot

Mobile bedside bioprinter can heal wounds

Tom Patriot

Imagine a day when a bioprinter filled with a patient’s own cells can be wheeled right to the bedside to treat large wounds or burns by printing skin, layer by layer, to begin the healing process. That day is not far off. Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) scientists have created such a mobile skin bioprinting system — the first of its kind — that allows bi-layered skin to be printed directly into a wound. “The unique aspect of this technology is the mobility of the system and the…

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Brain response to mom’s voice differs in kids with autism

Tom Patriot

For most children, the sound of their mother’s voice triggers brain activity patterns distinct from those triggered by an unfamiliar voice. But the unique brain response to mom’s voice is greatly diminished in children with autism, according to a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine. The diminished response was seen on fMRI brain scans in face-processing regions and learning and memory centers, as well as in brain networks that process rewards and prioritize different stimuli as important. The findings will be published Feb. 26 in eLife. “Kids with…

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Emma Thompson Just Quit a Movie Because a Notorious Sexual Harasser Was Also Hired

Tom Patriot

Although the #MeToo movement helped unmask several powerful men accused of sexual harassment and assault, many of these abusers have faced only slight repercussions. However, advocates for survivors have continued to speak out. Most recently, Emma Thompson quit a movie after the studio hired a man who has admitted to past sexual misconduct. Variety reports that Thompson was set to voice a character in the upcoming animated movie Luck from Skydance Animation. However, the actress withdrew from the role in January after former Pixar CEO John Lasseter was hired as the new head of the animation studio—despite his…

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