Hearts with human cells grown in pigs for the first time

Chinese researchers have grown beating hearts containing human cells inside pig embryos for the first time, raising hopes that the technique could one day help to solve a chronic shortage of transplant organs.
The embryos survived only for three weeks. However, the development of beating cardiac tissue is seen as a significant milestone. The goal would be to grow hearts composed entirely of human cells inside the animals.
About 7,500 individuals are awaiting organ transplants in the UK, according to NHS Blood and Transplant. Among them are about 192 children, of which 42 require a heart. Despite the number of deceased donors nearly doubling since 2008, the rise has not matched growing demand.
• Scientists make model embryo with heartbeat from stem cells
Between April 2021 and March 2022, 429 people died while on the transplant waiting list. A further 644 were removed from the list because deteriorating health made them too ill to be considered for the operation.
The new research, presented at the International Society for Stem Cell Research's annual meeting in Hong Kong, appears to mark a significant step forward in the creation of human–animal 'chimaeras' — organisms that contain a mix of human and animal cells.
The hybrid embryos survived for 21 days and formed hearts approximately as large as a human heart at the same embryonic stage.
The researchers, whose work was first reported by the journal Nature, began by 'reprogramming' human stem cells, which have the ability to become almost any type of cell. This involved inserting genes that promote cell growth and resist cell death, giving them a better chance of surviving inside a pig.
• Stem cells help scientists to create embryo without eggs
The enhanced cells were injected into pig embryos that had been genetically modified to lack two genes necessary for heart development. The hope was that the human cells would fill the void and form the missing organ.
Earlier experiments had resulted in researchers growing human muscle and blood-vessel cells in pig embryos and scientists had also succeeded in generating early-stage human kidneys in pigs.
'Pigs are a suitable donor species because the size and anatomy of their organs are comparable with those of humans,' Liangxue Lai, a developmental biologist at the Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, who led the latest work, told Nature.
Human cells were identified in the hearts by a luminescent biomarker that caused them to glow under special lighting conditions.
• Man given genetically modified pig kidney in world-first transplant
Experts at the Hong Kong meeting expressed cautious interest in the results. Hiromitsu Nakauchi, a stem-cell biologist at Stanford University, saidhe would want to review the data more closely to confirm that the heart cells were of human origin.
The researchers have not yet reported what proportion of the heart tissue was made up of human cells. In Liangxue's previous work on kidneys grown in pigs, between 40 per cent and 60 per cent of the tissue was human-derived.
Hideki Masaki, a stem-cell scientist at the Institute of Science in Tokyo, noted that the fluorescent human cells appeared in only a limited portion of the developing heart. 'If researchers want to develop hearts for transplantation, they will need to be made entirely of human cells,' he said, warning that any pig-derived tissue could trigger immune rejection in human recipients.

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BBC News

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Midwinter's Day: King sends message to Antarctic scientists

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The healthiest cornflakes (and the ones to avoid)

Back in 1969, Neil Armstrong's one small step for man was fuelled by one big bowl of cornflakes, according to Kellogg's, who sent cubes of their cereal into orbit for his Apollo 11 trip to the moon. The cereal was already a favourite back on firmer ground in Britain, having been a staple on supermarket shelves since 1922 – and it's still going strong today. Around 60 million boxes are produced in the UK every year – and that's for Kellogg's alone. Despite the rise of smashed avocado on toast and fancy Greek yogurt and berries, a bowl of simple cereal remains the go-to breakfast for around a quarter of the population, providing around half of fibre intake for the average adult, according to the latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey. But how healthy is the perennially popular breakfast? 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Skip to: Nestlé Sainsbury's M&S Kellogg's Tesco (Free From) Waitrose Aldi Asda Tesco Lidl 10) Nestlé GoFree Cornflakes The main ingredient in cornflakes is, unsurprisingly, corn, but they also contain barley, which is a source of gluten. This gluten-free option, made without barley, is high in sugar, with 2.6g per 30g portion, making them more sugary than Kellogg's. 'These have the highest sugar content on the list, still fortified and gluten-free, but worth noting if keeping sugar intake low is a priority,' Ludlam-Raine says. 9) Kellogg's The original Kellogg's cornflakes is not the healthiest as it contains 2.4g of sugar per 30g portion (0.7g more than the top-ranked cornflakes). 'It's higher in sugar than supermarket own brands, though well fortified,' Ludlam-Raine notes. It is also one of the highest in salt, with 0.34g per 30g portion. This organic cereal from Sainsbury's contains 0.6g of sugar per 30g portion, around a third of the sugar found in most other own-brand cornflakes. However, as it is organic, it is not fortified, Ludlam-Raine notes. It's a good option if you're trying to reduce your sugar intake but it won't offer the vitamins and minerals that many people are lacking in, such as vitamin D, adds Alison Clark, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association. 7) M&S Only 1 Ingredient Corn Flakes Part of the M&S range made with few ingredients, the one-ingredient cornflakes contain only corn and naturally-occurring sugars. As a result, they are the lowest sugar cornflakes from major supermarkets, with 0.2g per 30g portion. However, their ranking has been nudged down because they are not fortified. 'This option is good if you're specifically looking to avoid sugar, but lacks the micronutrient benefits of fortified options,' Ludlam-Raine says. 6) Tesco Free From Cornflakes This gluten-free option from Tesco has a similar calorie and fat level to standard cornflakes but is higher in sugar (2g per 30g) than most other options. However, it is also higher in fibre (1.2g) and lower in salt (0.08g) than other cornflakes. 'This is a good gluten-free option with moderate sugar content and full fortification – a strong choice for those with dietary needs,' Ludlam-Raine says. 5) Waitrose Waitrose Essential cornflakes contain slightly higher sugar than the option from Aldi (2g per 30g) but have a bit more fibre (0.8g per 30g). 'It is still a reasonable choice with fortification,' she says. 4) Aldi The cornflakes from Aldi contain a slightly higher amount of sugar (1.9g per 30g) and they're also lower in fibre, with 0.5g compared to the 0.8g found in most of the other supermarket own brand versions. 'But the sugar level is still low overall and the cereal is fully fortified,' Ludlame-Raine notes. 3) Asda ' This option from Asda is comparable to other supermarket own-brand offerings, low in sugar (1.8g per 30g) and fully fortified – a good choice,' Ludlam-Raine says. 2) Tesco The cornflakes from Tesco contain slightly more sugar (1.8g per 30g) than the top-ranked cornflakes, but less than most options on this list, with 1.8g per 30g serving. 'This is a good low-sugar option from Tesco, with full fortification,' Ludlam-Raine says. Best overall for health: 1. Lidl It's the Crownfield Corn Flakes from Lidl that come out on top, according to Ludlam-Raine. They are low in sugar, containing 1.7g per 30g portion, she notes. This is the lowest out of all other options, apart from M&S Only 1 Ingredient cornflakes, which are not fortified. As these are fortified with vitamins, they are the best choice. How much should you eat? The portion size listed on the box of cornflakes, and other cereals, is 30g. But pour out your usual bowl and weigh it for a shock about how little 30g is. 'In reality, many adults naturally pour a larger portion (closer to 40–50g),' Ludlam-Raine confirms. In fact, most adults will need more than a 30g portion to not only keep them full but provide enough nutrients, as cornflakes are low in fibre and protein, she explains. 'If you want a larger portion, that's OK, especially if you're quite active – but be mindful of balancing it by adding protein fibre, and healthy fats.' How to boost the healthiness of your cornflakes Obviously, milk is the first addition to start with. Around 150ml to 250ml is a good guide, as it's enough to moisten and cover the flakes, but the exact amount you choose to add depends on preference and if you are drinking more milk later in the day, she notes. Choosing semi-skimmed or whole milk will provide protein and fat to support fullness, or you could try combining your flakes with Greek yoghurt or kefir (a fermented milk drink) for extra protein and gut-friendly probiotics, Ludlam-Raine says. 'Unsweetened fortified plant-based milks (such as soya or pea milk) can also be good options, as they provide protein and contain added calcium and vitamin D (note that organic versions do not have nutrients added),' she says. 'We use fortified oat milk at home.' For toppings, she recommends fresh fruit such as berries, sliced banana or grated apple and pear for extra minerals, fibre and natural sweetness. A small handful of nuts or seeds, for example chia seeds, flaxseeds or almonds, will add even more healthy fat, protein and fibre. It will benefit your health to add these top-up ingredients if you're regularly having cornflakes for breakfast, as, on its own, cornflakes are too low in protein and fibre to keep us sufficiently fuelled for the morning. 'It can be fine as part of a more complete breakfast if you add other foods for example fruit, nuts and kefir,' Ludlam-Raine adds. How do cornflakes compare to other breakfasts? Cornflakes are low in calories and fat, making them healthier than many other types of cereal, like sugar-coated Frosties (which are one-third sugar, containing 11g per serving, compared to the 0.2g to 2.6g in cornflakes) or granola, which despite appearing healthy, are often very high in calories, fat and sugar, Ludlam-Raine says. Saying that, there are healthier cereals. Shredded wheat, for example, has no added sugar and is high in fibre, Ludlam-Raine notes. 'Weetabix too is good as it's high in fibre and fortified with nutrients,' she says. 'These are cereals which can be added to easily too – from different milks to fruits and nuts too.' For a healthier everyday breakfast that isn't cereal, she recommends porridge oats with milk, fruit and seeds; wholegrain toast with nut butter and fruit; Greek yoghurt with fruit, seeds and muesli; and wholegrain cereals with a good fibre content, mixed with fruit and seeds. 'These options provide more lasting energy, better support blood sugar control and help meet your fibre needs, which many people (over 90 per cent) in the UK fall short on,' Ludlam-Raine says. Verdict: Are cornflakes healthy? 'Cornflakes can form part of a healthy breakfast, but on their own they aren't the most balanced choice,' Ludlam-Raine says. 'They are low in fibre and protein, meaning they may not keep you full for very long, which can lead to impulse or excessive snacking later in the morning.' Clark agrees. 'I wouldn't recommend cornflakes as a healthy cereal due to the low fibre content,' she says. While most options are fortified with vitamins, this is the case for most cereals so it doesn't make cornflakes especially healthy, she adds. 'If you enjoy cornflakes, choose those that are fortified with added nutrients,' Ludlam-Raine adds. 'Pair them with a protein source (such as milk or kefir, yoghurt and nuts) and fibre (fruit and seeds),' for an extra health boost.