Remote control of diabetes

[Dave]

Item on BBC Workd Service mentioned the use of a smartphone to control genetically modified cells for diabetes therapy. Typically on the media the slight emphasis was in the use of a smartphone, not the breakthrough in therapeutic concepts.

There are akready apps and remote controls for insulin pumps and other mechanical therapeutic devices but this one uses light from an implant to stimulate genetically modified cells to produce insulin. That latter is the real breakthrough I think.

See https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170426142019.htm

[Arturo]

Item on BBC Workd Service mentioned the use of a smartphone to control genetically modified cells for diabetes therapy. Typically on the media the slight emphasis was in the use of a smartphone, not the breakthrough in therapeutic concepts.

There are akready apps and remote controls for insulin pumps and other mechanical therapeutic devices but this one uses light from an implant to stimulate genetically modified cells to produce insulin. That latter is the real breakthrough I think.

See https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170426142019.htm

They've been using light to activate algae for a couple years in the brain for I think cancer. And I know they wanted to extend the treatment to maybe cure or treat schizophrenia.

[Dave]

Item on BBC Workd Service mentioned the use of a smartphone to control genetically modified cells for diabetes therapy. Typically on the media the slight emphasis was in the use of a smartphone, not the breakthrough in therapeutic concepts.

There are akready apps and remote controls for insulin pumps and other mechanical therapeutic devices but this one uses light from an implant to stimulate genetically modified cells to produce insulin. That latter is the real breakthrough I think.

See https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170426142019.htm

They've been using light to activate algae for a couple years in the brain for I think cancer. And I know they wanted to extend the treatment to maybe cure or treat schizophrenia.

Interesting, must look for that.

[Dave]

Ah, now to delve into the world of nanotheranostics, triggered by light or other stimuli!

The idea of hormone sources etc trigered by light, with the light sources implanted, seems very exciting. But also open to some real dangers.

Yet another venture into what was sci-fi only a few years ago...

[Arturo]

The lights maaaan, they're brain washing the masses! We need *puffs weed* to take down *Obi Wan Voice* (you want to go home and rethink your life) I want to go home and rethink my life...

[jumbojak]

That could really turn things around for my brother. He has been struggling with diabetes for the last two years after being misdiagnosed type II when he was in fact type I. Regulating insulin has been a challenge.

[Dave]

That could really turn things around for my brother. He has been struggling with diabetes for the last two years after being misdiagnosed type II when he was in fact type I. Regulating insulin has been a challenge.

Yup, what's needed next is an in-situ always on-line, or at least readable-at-will via an external system,  monitor.  Close the loop and, hey-presto, continuous level control!

Biotechnology is a fascinating and fast moving field, each step forming the foundation for the next - but very rapidly now.