Israel Active

Three Israelis invented the science of Biogerontology (the study of longevity and the aging process) some 40 years ago. Recently, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev hosted the eighth European Congress of Biogerontology — the first time this event was held in Israel.

Doctors at Haifa’s Rambam hospital performed one of the most difficult surgical procedures possible. Although one twin was not viable and was stillborn, the other is now fighting for its life. There have been only 150 cases of similarly conjoined twins in the last 126 years.

(Thanks to Israel21c) Although nearly all babies are vaccinated against HBV, the virus still kills 1.2 million people every year – mainly immune-suppressed, gluten intolerant and diabetics. Israeli biotech SciGen’s Sci-B-Vac is the only third-generation HBV vaccine, given to almost all Israelis and has reduced HBV deaths in Israel significantly. It will soon be available in most countries.

World Health Organization director general Margaret Chan praised Israel’s national health infrastructure on her first visit to Israel. She said, “I’ve come here to learn from your excellent health system”. She also visited Gaza children at Tel Aviv’s Dana-Dwek Children’s Hospital.

Here is a report on the cancer-screening program conducted at Tel Aviv’s Sourasky Medical Center. Its Integrated Cancer Prevention Center program is considered to be unique in the World. In a few hours you get examined for early detection of at least 11 most common cancers.

Israel’s Health Ministry has for the first time issued standards for food served in Israeli hospitals, aiming to guarantee that patients receive more wholesome and tastier meals. Changes include less salt, wholegrain bread, menu choice, low fat poultry and fish and dairy products with up to 5 percent fat.

The Governor of the US State of Maryland and the President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore visited the Hebrew University Hadassah School of Medicine in Jerusalem. They pledged increased collaboration in research and academia.

A Tel Aviv University team says they can diagnose the psychiatric disease of schizophrenia at an early stage. They take samples of nerve cells from the upper internal part of the nose and test for a specific molecule of micro-RNA that has high levels in schizophrenia patients. Previous tests could only be performed post-mortem on the brain.

Sheba Medical Center researchers and Israeli start-up Lev-El Diagnostics of Heart Disease have developed an algorithm that could save lives by quickly identifying patients with heart disease. Patients used to have to wear heart monitors for 24 - 48 hours. Now they are diagnosed in one hour.

18 Israeli companies develop or market cell-based treatment products - an unprecedented large proportion in relation to the country’s population. All of them are attending the Israstem Conference in Ramat Gan starting Apr 22, to discuss stem cells, cell therapy, and regenerative medicine.