Melanoma can be cured – in Israel
Patients in an advanced stage of metastatic melanoma are being given a new lease of life at the Ella Institute of Sheba Medical Centre in Tel Aviv. Sheba’s innovative Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL) trials have patients from Europe coming to Israel to be rid of the deadly cancer.
Crohn’s medication works
Israel’s Teva Pharmaceuticals has reported success in the Phase IIa clinical trial of Laquinimod in moderate to severe Crohn’s disease. The announcement was made at the 20th United European Gastroenterology (UEG) conference in Amsterdam.
Ultrasound treatment for bone cancer patients
The US Food and Drug Administration has given pre-marketing approval for ExAblate targeted focused ultrasound treatment from Israel’s InSightec Image Guided Treatment Ltd.. The approval is initially for bone cancer patients who cannot undergo radiation therapy.
Israeli spinal surgery – in Vietnam
Mazor Robotics has received its first order in Vietnam for its Renaissance robotic navigation system for spinal surgery. The system will be installed at the Viet Duc Hospital in Hanoi, the country's largest surgical hospital, with 1,000 beds.
Genetic link for autism
New Tel Aviv University and Sheba Medical Center research has found that Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) share a root cause with psychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The research accessed anonymous records from over one million Israeli soldiers.
Natural medicines from Jerusalem
The Natural Medicine Research Unit for the Study of Complementary, Alternative and Integrated Medicine at Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem is exploring some ancient methods to cure modern day ailments. The centre even germinated a 2,000-year-old Judean date palm seed.
MRI atlas of the human brain
The Tel Aviv University CONNECT project has scanned 120 healthy brains with a magnetic resonance instrument (MRI) to build the world’s first “atlas” of the microstructure of white matter. The data could help identify signs of neurological and psychiatric diseases and lead to early treatment.
Protein has link to Alzheimer’s
University of Haifa researcher Yifat Segev has discovered a link between dementia and the activity level of a protein called eIF2alpha. Head of Neurobiology Prof. Kobi Rosenblum said that altering the performance of this protein through medication could treat the incurable, progressive disease.
Polymer to extend life of medical implants
Israel’s MMATech has developed a unique polymer for use in hip replacements, dental implants and other operations. MP-1 is a tough, low-friction polyimide that will preserve implants for longer than their current average lifespan in the body.
Preventing heart failure
(Thanks to Israel21c) Israel’s BioControl Medical is currently testing its CardioFit electrical stimulation device on 200 patients at risk of heart failure at 50 US medical centers. CardioFit already has the CE mark from the European Union.