Monthly Archives: April 2013

Why the immune system fails

Hebrew University researchers have discovered the mechanisms that the body uses to shut down the immune system. The process can be beneficial in preventing chronic inflammation, but very dangerous in patients with cancer and HIV. This knowledge can help develop … Continue reading

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Bone marrow treatment gets boost

In January I mentioned Apocell from Israeli biotech Enlivex, which prevents GVHD rejection of bone marrow transplants. Now, the treatment has received US FDA “orphan” status due to its importance and lack of alternatives for treating the unwanted autoimmune response. … Continue reading

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The gene that moves your heart

Researchers at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center have found mutations in the LRRC6 gene cause primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Symptoms are repeated lung infections, sinusitis, frequent ear infections and fertility problems. Early diagnosis may reduce the damage. And in half these … Continue reading

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Israeli plants fight infections

(Thanks to NoCamels) Israeli herbs have generated special chemical compounds to deal with the extremes of the climate. Israel’s Nufar Natural Products is developing these plants to treat problematic wounds, assist in treating fungal and other skin infections and fight … Continue reading

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Israel invited to TedMed

The USA’s annual TedMed conference is normally an American-only event, where doctors can relax and discuss matters that really concern them. This year, Israel will be the first country outside of the US to be officially represented. And on the … Continue reading

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Israel to build modern hospital in Bulgaria

A modern medical center for bone marrow transplantation with the know-how of Hadassah Hospital of Jerusalem will be opened in Varna by the end of the current year. Also, a University of Haifa program will allow 3rd-year Israeli students to … Continue reading

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The dark side of the Internet

Ben Gurion University engineer Mark Last has developed a system for detecting websites used for illegal military activities. It analyzes the occurrence of certain words and highlights those sites with an unusually high frequency of them. The system has near-perfect … Continue reading

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Clean panels for more solar power

Frequent Middle-East storms can coat solar panes with dust, reducing their efficiency substantially. Sergey Biryukov at Ben Gurion University’s National Solar Energy Center came up with the idea of using an electrical field to “charge” the dust particles and repel … Continue reading

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A UAV in your backpack

A new unmanned drone from Israel’s Elbit Systems is a game-changer for the IDF. It takes 8 minutes to assemble, launched from a bungee cord, flies at 15,000 feet for three hours and its on-board camera shows exactly what is … Continue reading

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A house for the Sustainable Olympics

30 Israeli students have built an energy self-sufficient four-room house that will compete in the Solar Decathlon event in China in August. It is solar-powered, has disabled access, a garden irrigated by recycled water and the renewable energy products of … Continue reading

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