Israel Active

(Thanks to Nevet – www.broaderview.org) Canadian army experts are looking at how the Israeli Defense Forces have successfully combated Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The rate of suicides in the IDF is lower that of the national population, thanks to several key support practices.

(Thanks to NoCamels) Professor Dan Peer of Tel Aviv University has devised a cluster of nano-particles that use chemotherapy to directly target tumor cells. It has achieved a 25-fold improvement in effectiveness with a dramatic reduction in toxic effect on healthy organs.

More on the 3D scanner developed in the Geometric Image Processing Lab of Israel Technion Professor Ron Kimmel. (Baby mask reported in 11 Aug 2013 newsletter.)

The new 5,000-square-meter fortified emergency room at the Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva can treat 200,000 patients a year. It will relieve overstretched emergency rooms in other parts of the country, especially during the winter season. It cost NIS 90 million (about $26 million) to build.

Dr. Ohad Birk of Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva has discovered the genetic mutations that cause Progressive Cerebro-Cerebellar Atrophy (PCCA) and its variation PCCA2. A simple blood test can detect both these mutations in prospective parents.

The Weizmann Institute and the Max Planck Society are establishing a laboratory for Experimental Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurogenetics in Rehovot. Headed by Weizmann Professor Alon Chen it will research cognitive, emotional, behavioral and neurological disorders.

The prevalence of (often-deadly) colo-rectal cancer in Israel has declined thanks largely to intensive information campaigns by the Israel Cancer Association and others. The rate of patients who were diagnosed at an early stage almost doubled – from 20 percent in 1994 to 39% today.

Some hospitals are now so large that 25 per cent of visitors and patients become confused and get lost inside, despite signage and information desks. Carmel Medical Center in Haifa is the first hospital in Israel to introduce a smartphone GPS app to help people find their way to the correct department.

A Tel Aviv University study has found that people harbouring the ulcer-causing bacteria Helicobacter pylori were about 60% less likely to get diarrhoea from Shigella bacteria or other unknown causes.

The Israel Prize for Medicine goes to Professor Marta Weinstock-Rosin of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Weinstock-Rosin developed Exelon, for treating dementia related to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Exelon is currently undergoing Phase II trials.