Israel Active

Shimon Ganot was born in 1918, fought in the pre-state Palmach and was an IDF infantry officer in four wars. So his heart attack and subsequent operation to replace diseased arteries was probably no problem to him. (A bit tricky for the surgeons at Rehovot’s Kaplan Medical Centre, though.)

Israeli biotech Pluristem announced that its PLacental eXpanded (PLX) cells improve several parameters in acute heart attacks in animals. Cardiac muscle function improved in mice receiving PLX cells, compared with a control group. Over 600,000 people suffered heart attacks in the USA last year.

And that’s about all you need to know about dieting. Researchers at Ben Gurion University analysed 12 of the most popular diets and proved that those who consumed large quantities of vegetables and reduced their intake of sugar obtain the best results. (Thanks to NoCamels – now let’s eat!)

Weizmann Institute researchers have discovered that we have two pump mechanisms that regulate the balance of nutrients in our cells. “Good-time” and “bad-time” pumps ensure that cells can handle fluctuations in nutrient supply. What an amazing creation is the human body.

Prof. Ehud Grossman of Tel Aviv University has published an overview of the hypertension impact of over-the-counter medicines. Some physicians are also unaware of the risks of such medication and that harmful effects may outweigh the benefits.

Over the coming months, Bar-Ilan University's Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee and University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine will explore the joint development of a cancer centre which will integrate scientific research.

(Thanks to NoCamels) 21 year-old Morad Azva had been mute since an attack in 2007. After medical treatments showed no progress, he was sent to the Dolphin Reef in Eilat for "dolphin therapy". There, he began to communicate through the interaction with dolphins.

(thanks to NoCamels) IBM Haifa has been developing its Clinical Genomics platform since 2007. It has announced that it can now deliver personal treatment recommendations based on an automated interpretation of pathology guidelines, as well as cases documented in hospital information systems.

Israel’s Biocancell Therapeutics announced that phase 1/II(a) trials have proved BC-819 to be safe and effective in treating ovarian cancer.

US biotech NeuroPhage Pharmaceuticals has raised finance to develop brain disease treatment products based on the discovery of Tel Aviv University professor Beka Solomon. Prof Solomon's discovery is already being used by Elan Corporation (USA) and Israel's NasVax to develop treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.