RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

■Researchers use pig bladder to regenerate human tissue


Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are testing methods to regrow tissue and muscle from pig bladder cells. The procedure involves implanting an extracellular matrix that includes growth proteins into damaged areas to encourage the body to restore basic muscle tissue, tendons and nerves. "We want to resurrect fetal wound healing," said Stephen Badylak, director of the Center for Pre-Clinical Tissue Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. Humans Invent (U.K.) (11/24)

■Plastic surgeons, engineers collaborate on nerve growth
A team of plastic surgery researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has worked with engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop techniques to treat damaged nerves using functional electric stimulation while lowering the chances of painful side effects. "This new device works by manipulating the concentration of charged ions surrounding the nerve. This could potentially mean reduced risk to surrounding nerves," said ASDS member and senior study author Dr. Samuel Lin. ScienceDaily (11/21)